Lost Gifts: Miscarriage, Grief, and the God of All Comfort

by Brittany Lee Allen

Grief upon grief.

I felt life perish from within my body three times. I had children, I just never got to hold them or know them or kiss them. My life looked no different from the outside. But inside, I was heartbroken and confused. Losing a baby in the womb is common, but that doesn't make it any less painful. The grief of losing any child feels unbearable.

Lost Miscarriage, Grief, and the God of All Comfort laments the grief of miscarriage, discovers God’s gifts in spite of loss, and remembers our Good Shepherd, who weeps with those who weep. When we suffer, we are invited into deeper communion with Jesus. In the pain of miscarriage, we learn to treasure our suffering Savior who holds us.

Genres: Theology, Nonfiction

200 pages, Paperback

Published July 23, 2025

Reviews

[Walter Shaw - · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd put this in the hands of every pastor & every family in my church that has suffered a miscarriage.

[Brittany Lee Allen]

I won't review my own book but am I counting it toward my yearly book goal? Absolutely I am.

[Taliah Kendrick]

A tender topic, handled with such care. I appreciate the Brittany’s vulnerability as she invites us into her story of loss and points us to our Good Shepherd, who weeps with those who weep. That truth stayed with me.

She writes honestly about the sorrow of miscarriage, yet offers gentle hope throughout. I was especially grateful for how she navigates the nuance of miscarriage within the church—the silence, the ache, and the longing for words when few are offered. Through Scripture and story, she gives language to grief and points us toward the comfort of Christ.

It’s been a few years since my miscarriage, but it’s something that leaves a lasting mark. I still think about my baby around their due date, on holidays, and in quiet moments. This book helped me engage that grief again with a deeper understanding of lament and a clearer view of the God who meets us in it.

At the end of each chapter, there’s a Psalm of lament, a guided reflection, and space to bring your own sorrow to God. Lost Gifts is a meaningful resource to revisit personally or to give to a friend walking through loss. Thank you, Lexham Press, for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Sarahbeth Caplin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a balm for every mother who has suffered loss. No cliches or platitudes here- Brittany has the kind of wisdom that has been hard-won after immense suffering. I’m very grateful for her.

[Emily Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lost Gifts is a book about miscarriage but it's not just for grieving mothers. Brittany Allen seeks to give a glimpse of the pain parents feel at the pain of miscarriage while encouraging the church to come alongside these parents with hope. The premise of the book is that God gives good gifts even if parents grieve with empty arms. I love the constant referral back to God's goodness and his care for his people.

Allen introduces the reader to biblical lament and its place in the church. Miscarriage has historically been treated as a private sorrow, but Allen encourages the church to recognize unborn babies and grieve the loss of their lives. She does this with care and a deep biblical foundation.

The mark of a truly biblical book is timeless truth. Though the days of my own miscarriage are many years past, I couldn't help but read these truths about God's good gifts and apply them to the current struggles and griefs in my life.

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

[Renee Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edit to add:After experiencing my own miscarriage with child #6 (5 years after twins), I think it’s really important to consider that everyone experiences grief in miscarriage differently and to different degrees—and that is okay and worth mentioning before you embark on this book. My experience has been very different than Allen’s. Depending on the season in which your miscarriage comes (after a long season of infertility/after twins/as your 1st child/after your 5th child/ at 8 weeks/at 32 weeks) will naturally impact change the outer workings of the Grief Road due to the expectations, time spent, life dreamt, and understanding of God’s good hand in your life; what the season does NOT change is that a valuable and precious life was lost (Allen does unprecedented work communicating the sanctify of life no matter how small!!) However, your depth of grief may look different than the author’s, so you should be aware of that going into the book so that when it is, you aren’t heaping on shame nor feeling ridiculous.


As a helpful and sympathetic resource for the church, this book demonstrates the innate worth of human life from the womb and the deep grief experienced when life is lost through miscarriage. In this book, Brittany Allen mixes memoir with biblical truth by vulnerably sharing her raw experiences with multiple miscarriages and the spiritual lessons learned while walking the road of grief and suffering.

“In losing my three sweet babies, I was not left empty-handed. God filled my hands with his own nail-pierced hands. He met me in my grief and sat with me in the ashes” (4).

Allen writes, “In our loss, we lose so much, and we also gain so much” (89). Throughout these pages, the author acknowledges the pain and death that miscarriage bring and the real implications it has on a family, but Allen also expounds on the real gifts God delivers to those who are in the midst of suffering: comfort of God’s word, growth in grace toward those who wound, compassion toward other sufferers, his very presence, a closer intimacy with Christ, and more.

There are many high points in this book. For one, Allen upholds of the dignity of human life in a way that is far more biblical and thought-provoking than what seeps into pews on a Sunday morning. I also think that Brittany’s story provides a helpful, peeled-back look into how many women (and men) may grieve the loss of their child(ren) and how churches and friends can be patient and supportive toward grieving families. This book is also unique because it’s not simply for those experiencing miscarriage, but it is also beneficial for those who want to hold their hurting loved ones and for those who need a fresh reality-check to the vast amount of pain, the depth of grief, and the reality of brokenness in the world.

I loved the rich scripture applications and promises of God for those who are in Christ, particularly that the verses were written out and referenced. Brittany clearly articulates gospel hope in what can seem like a hopeless situation. These truths are applicable for any suffering. There are various Psalms of lament at the end of each chapter for closer reflection and an invitation to write out your own personal lament to the Lord.

My only caution is that—before gifting this book to your friend who experienced a miscarriage—make sure she is ready. Brittany writes with beautiful passion, but it often is visually graphic. It could be painful for the reader to relive her own wounds through the depictions of miscarriage if she isn’t quite in a place to face it head on. If in the deep pits of darkness, parts may produce a sense of guilt or shame if she doesn’t experience grief to the same degree as the author. That in no way is the author's heart at all. It should go without saying, but these pages contain just one experience of grief’s long road, and Brittany's experience isn't the only expression grief takes (though I would say it is probably the most common). So regardless of where the reader is on the rollercoaster of grief, the promises and scriptural truths Brittany articulates stand firm and will be massively comforting if the reader is positionally able to hear her encouragement.

Suffering is never pleasant. Affliction is often painful. Death is not good. But through our loss we find that the Lord is always enough to carry us, sustain us, and provide for us. The cause of our pain is fundamentally different than the purposes God has within it, even when those purposes often remain a mystery; in all, we know that he is good. Though miscarriage is a devastating and terrible loss, God provides so many good gifts while walking through the darkest of nights. Brittany has given the church a helpful resource and the readers of this book the freedom to grieve deeply. That is special. I would recommend reading this book with sympathy, a tender heart, and a box of tissues.

***Thank you to Lexham Press for this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#readRENEEread

[Griffin Gooch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional. Highly recommend to anyone going through grief.

[Rachel Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, but I struggled to get through it. She spends quite a bit of time criticizing and correcting people who say harsh or unkind things to women who have miscarriages, as much as she tries to provide comfort from scripture. It’s not clear who her target audience is - she directs the chapters toward women who have been through miscarriage but also has a lot to say to church members on how (and how not to) to care for these women and their husbands. What she says is not untrue, but I did not find it helpful for myself.

[Hailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good from front to back. Practical. Thoughtful. Covers a lot of ground. Would recommend to anyone who has experienced miscarriage, anyone who desires to understand and love someone who has had a miscarriage, or anyone looking to develop their theology of grief and suffering.

[Lia Ross Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have followed Brittany for years and have always appreciated her vulnerability and voice on the topic of miscarriage. Through her words and wisdom, I have learned how to carefully shape my language and conversations on the topic and gained practical ways to serve families walking through this pain, along with what to avoid.

This book is beautiful and has been my favorite read of the year. It is theologically rich and honest. I was so encouraged by Brittany’s testimony of how the Lord met her in the midst of her pain. Even if you have not experienced the grief of miscarriage, this book offers a helpful perspective for understanding families who have, while also providing sound theology on suffering and lament in general.

The book reads smoothly and is well edited, which is especially helpful for heavy topics like this. There is clarity and careful attention to making sure each point lands well. I highly recommend it!

I am so grateful this book was written. I pray that Brittany’s story and practical advice will help the church grieve faithfully alongside our siblings in Christ who experience loss. May we not meet them with silence, but with care, service, and space for them to bring their grief to us.
The book reads smoothly and is well edited, which is especially helpful for heavy topics like this. There is clarity and careful attention to making sure each point lands well.

Each chapter ends with Psalms of lament and prompts to write your own lament to the Lord. I loved this addition to the book.

Thank you to Lexham Press for this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Jillian Kondamudi · Rating 5 out of 5]

In her book Lost Gifts, Brittany Lee Allen writes a necessary message to those who have experienced miscarriage loss and infertility. There is hope interwoven throughout as she writes from experience the comfort she found in our Father through her own stories of loss. Living in a world which is well acquainted with sorrow, she says, “Lament leads the believer into deeper communion with God.”

The church today has not historically supported women through miscarriage, weeping and carrying their burdens with them. Too often the church has overlooked their pain or made ill-timed or plain inappropriate comments. This book is critical for church leaders and those looking to support the 1 and 3 women who have experienced pregnancy loss.

Whether this book is for your own loss or to help you better support someone you know, this book is for you.

[Max · Rating 5 out of 5]

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