Fulfilled: A Therapist's Journey of Faith through Fertility

by Devan Larsen, LMFT, CGT

FIND FREEDOM IN YOUR SEASON OF WAITING

Friend, are you feeling stuck in your season of waiting? Join Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Devan Larsen, on a journey towards freedom as you wait on the Lord in your season of delayed fertility. Learn to experience that fulfillment doesn’t come in the answer to your prayer to become a mother, but in what God is capable of doing in the delay to transform your life.

A Therapist’s Journey of Faith through Fertility by Devan Larsen guides readers through the stories of women, including her own, that detail the trials and triumphs that come with navigating the road of delayed fertility. The diversity in these stories will validate readers’ heartaches, struggles, and fears while encouraging them to keep their eyes on Jesus. Along with these raw and honest testimonies, Devan includes her insights as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in hope that readers will not be discouraged, but motivated to welcome the wait.

Readers will learn that a delayed answer to prayer is not a rejection or refusal from God, but an opportunity to grow in faith and find fulfillment in the journey as we wait. Devan outlines tools to help women in waiting cope while pursuing their faith in Christ. Loved ones of those in waiting are addressed in the final pages of the book, where Devan shares her heart in an open letter and teaches friends and family how to show up in supportive ways for those in waiting.

194 pages, Paperback

Published November 10, 2024

About the author

Devan Larsen, LMFT, CGT is a marriage and trauma therapist, follower of Jesus, and author. Devan's passion has always been working with wounded hearts, helping those in broken and what seem like hopeless situations find light and meaning for their lives. She owns a private practice called Moments of Grace Family Therapy and specializes in working with couples, adolescents, and adults who want to find freedom from trauma they've experienced.

Devan holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley and a Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Liberty University. She is a Certified Gottman Therapist and a local Moms in the Making leader. Devan lives on a small farm in Central Oregon with her husband and two Golden Retrievers. She continues to wait on the Lord to build her family and believes that every woman can find fulfillment in their season of waiting. In her down time, Devan enjoys sitting on her patio with a good book, traveling, or enjoying a sweet treat.

Reviews

[Lindsey Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a powerful and well written book. The story telling about her own journey and other women in waiting was my favorite part. This book is great for any person who is struggling with delayed fertility or has a loved one going through this journey. It’s a book that deepens your faith and helps you feel closer to God. Full of great coping tips

[Janet Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

In part one of Devan's book, I found myself confronted with Devan's story and her pain-journey. I can't remember what I was expecting, but what I found is not a simplistic "journey from pain to faith"; the narration (thankfully) saves us from a formulaic "I had a problem + God helped me = no more problems." Devan's pain-journey walks shoulder to shoulder with a faith-journey, and none of it feels faked or forced. This is a story of hard life generating a soft trust in a real God who doesn't always fix problems for people he loves.

I could have read more of Devan's story. I still had lots of pages left when I turned to her final words that (spoiler) tell us that she's not done yet. I just need to say again how refreshing it is to find someone willing to write it out and publish before the story can be summed up with "and that's why God let it be like that" or "and so we all lived happily for many years." It's not a story from problem to climax to denouement, and I'm grateful. Her story is painful, her grief is vulnerable, and the Jesus that she travels with through life cares for her and cares more about her than about fixing the problem.

A note or two about how much Faith/Religion/Christianity you're going to find in this book ... and I know it's not helpful to say that it's a perfect amount, but it was good for me. There are occasional references to scriptures, and Devan talks about some meaningful interactions she had with her pastor and church community, references a sermon that can be found on a podcast, etc. Not so in-your-face that it would be unapproachable by someone dismissive of religion/spirituality. She doesn't meddle with trying to change the reader's religious perspectives or spend energy hashing the theology of suffering. The intertwining of faith and practice is authentic to the author--it's her story.

The middle of the book is a series of short "Lessons Learned" that could just about be a daily journal prompt for a meditative reader, or discussion questions for a reading group. I found them thoughtfully written and thought provoking. And at the end of her book, Devan opens the mic and lets many other women briefly tell their stories. These stories are too condensed, so in contrast to Devan's own story they may come across as formulaic even though they are laced with each woman's pain/grief. Could there have been half as many stories and told with more nuance? Sure, maybe. As it is, the three parts of the text work together well and make for a book that is worth keeping on my shelf. I'll keep it ostensibly for lending out when I'm next in relationship with a young family walking through infertility, but I wouldn't be surprised if I found myself leading a discussion from the Lessons Learned section while this is still my most-recently-read thoughtful book.

[Alaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has walked closely with friends through the heartbreak and hope of infertility, Fulfilled by Devan Larsen resonated deeply with me. This book is a gift—not just for women walking the path of delayed fertility themselves, but also for those of us who love them and want to support them well.

Devan shares her journey with such honesty, humility, and faith. She doesn’t sugarcoat the pain, but she also doesn’t let the story end there. Her reflections remind readers that waiting isn’t wasted—that it can be a space where faith is strengthened, identity is reshaped, and deep healing begins.

I especially appreciated the inclusion of stories from other women, as well as the “Lessons Learned” sections. They made me stop and reflect—not only on what my friends might be feeling, but on how I can show up better for them. This book gave me language for things I’ve seen my friends wrestle with silently, and it encouraged me to keep holding space with empathy and hope.

Fulfilled is tender, wise, and full of grace. If you’re supporting someone through infertility, this book is an incredible companion—it helps you understand their heart a little more clearly and love them a little more deeply.

[Sierra Fair · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, Devan does a beautiful job at describing the struggles facing couples who are in the wait for babies, and equipping readers with practical skills and tools. I am a licensed clinical social worker and work as a mental health therapist, and have personally experienced delayed fertility. It is through both of those lenses that I read this book and found validation for my own experience and additional skills and tools to share with others. Devan's perspective brings so much value to the world of delayed fertility and mental health. I have noticed, in both my personal and professional lives, that mental health and spiritual health are often thought of as separate areas to address. It is encouraging to see how the author illustrates the intricate and intimate connections between all aspects of who we are: emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically. Overall, I believe readers will feel an increased sense of hope and encouragement, while also being challenged to confront unhealthy and unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns.

[Julie P · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are in a season of delayed fertility/infertility, or in a season of waiting, this book will be a most valuable resource for you.

From Devan's personal story of her painful and powerful journey with infertility, to the lessons she's learned, to the many ways to cope while waiting, there's something everyone can glean from this book. If you've felt alone in your journey of infertility, reading the stories from Devan's friends will be so, so encouraging. And if you've never experienced infertility, but you have friends or family who have, you'll find a section where you can learn what to say and what not to say to those you love who are navigating those difficult waters.

The book is raw and real, vulnerable, yet an easy read. It's thought provoking. Honest. Heartbreaking. It's also filled with encouragement and hope. Again, this book is for anyone and everyone. I couldn't recommend it enough.

(This book was gifted to me)

[Kelly Lundy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know Devan personally and could just hear her speaking this as I read it. Her heart and her faith is so beautiful and inspiring, and she put it into words so incredibly in this book.
This book touches on every piece of walking through infertility in faith, or while struggling to cling to your faith in such a hard season.
She laments with you, offers testimonies of hope, offers practical therapist tools and faith tools, and offers words where you don’t have them for every piece of your journey including how others can support you. Ultimately, she encourages you to cling to the Lord in all of the suffering of infertility, she encourages practical ways to do this and where to start, and even includes prayers and scriptures to bring to Him when you don’t have the words.
If you have a strong faith or are struggling with your faith, if you are walking through delayed fertility or have a friend experiencing it- this book is for you!

[Jaclyn Moyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a tender and transformative resource for any woman navigating the often isolating experience of infertility. Devan, who is both a family therapist and someone who has faced her own struggles with infertility, weaves together personal narrative with empathetic guidance, creating a work that is as healing as it is inspiring. The compassionate tone throughout the book reassures readers that despite the hardships, God’s grace is ever-present, and that your struggles do not define you. In a world where the silence around infertility can often feel overwhelming, this book dares to speak its truth—gently challenging you to listen, reflect, and ultimately find solace in a community of shared experiences and in the enduring love of Christ. It is a must-read companion for those seeking to reconcile their pain with a deep, sustaining faith.

[Patricia Conneen · Rating 5 out of 5]

To me "wait" has always been a "four-letter word." In her personal account of delayed fertility "Fulfilled," Devan Larsen helps her reader transform the "w-word" into the word "surrender." This is not a surrender unto indifference but rather a surrender that births renewed hope, compassion, and a strengthening of faith.

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Larsen offers knowledgeable, trustworthy, and compassionate companionship as one travels the rugged road of delayed fertility.
I'm thankful I took her up on her offer. If your wait (any wait, not necessarily for a baby) has become difficult bordering on unbearable, I recommend without reservation, "Fulfilled." You will find you are not as alone as you might feel.

[Kaitlyn Rychlowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devan’s vulnerability in her journey through delayed fertility and faith invites you in and makes you feel like she is a best friend, sitting right beside you! She shares the struggles of the anxiety in the two week waits, the travel disruption, the trigger of pregnancy announcements, the everyday longing and how our faith can guide us through even the darkness of the journey. Through faith, we deepen our roots as we continue into a season of waiting and find hope in the waiting. I loved her quote “God often uses our deepest pain as the launching pad of our greatest calling.” SO good!

[Amber Barkefelt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed every page of this book! Devan’s story of delayed fertility resonated with my own. The lessons she learned and the practical ways to cope are crucial in finding fulfillment while in a season of waiting. I wish this book would have existed a few years ago, it would have helped me through many struggles.

[Mary Isenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devan writes a beautiful and encouraging book for anyone on the fertility journey! She encompasses the raw, emotional feelings of walking through delayed fertility to where you don’t feel guilty about having that experience too. It’s an invitation of allowing the Lord the show up in your journey and walk with faith, not fear.

[Mariana Amadou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. Dr. Larsen shares her personal story, makes an awareness for others who are not familiar with the fertility journey and her key lessons. Anyone who has gone through infertility should read this book. It resonates deeply.

[Angela Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautifully written book. Devan gives us a look into her journey and how she leaned into the Lord through it all.