The Joyful Mourning - A Podcast for Women Who Have Experienced Pregnancy or Infant Loss

Listen in as Lindsey Dennis shares honestly about what it was like to receive a fatal diagnosis for her daughter Sophia, to choose to carry her to term, and the ways she celebrated and cherished Sophia’s life in the days she did have with her. Lindsey’s story of loss and grief did not end with Sophia and she would go on to receive a second fatal prenatal diagnosis with her second daughter Dasah. This episode is real and and raw and hearing Lindsey’s story flooded my heart with familiar questions about God’s goodness and kindness and purpose for such loss. Lindsey redirected my heart and she will redirect yours too as she shared hope-filled truth that is helpful to any woman walking through loss and grief. While I cannot begin to understand God’s purposes for such pain I am grateful for the wisdom that Lindsey has gained through her suffering and for her graciously sharing it with us in this episode. I promise that this episode will leave you changed for the better friend -- reminding you that you have not been forgotten by God and you are never alone in this grief journey. -- Thank you to Cultivate What Matters for supporting The Joyful Mourning Podcast. Cultivate What Matters are the creators of the PowerSheets Intentional Goal Planner as well as the Write the Word Journals -- two of my most favorite tools for intentional, purposeful living. For the grieving mama who may find opening the Bible to be too difficult in this season, The Write the Word Journals are a perfect solution. This tool takes the overwhelm out of opening the Bible and provides a simple way to consistently spend time reading God’s Word -- where I believe true healing can be found. To check out all the details about the Write the Word Journals, as well as a generous 10% coupon code, head to www.themorning.com/cwm -- EPISODE 041 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode041 THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

Listen in as my special guest Aubrey Tollefson shares her story of loss after loss after loss but the remarkable way she found hope and healing through intentionally choosing gratitude amidst an unbelievable amount of grief. During our time together Aubrey and I talk about what pregnancy after recurrent loss is like, why she couldn’t even bring herself to buy maternity pants and why she hates the phrase ‘pregnancy is a natural thing.’ Aubrey also gets really honest about the complex nature of experiencing both joy and loss all at the same time and what she would say to another mom who is walking through such a dichotomy. And make sure to listen all the way to the end when she shares a piece of absolutely invaluable wisdom. No matter what has brought you here today, I am sure that this interview will resonate with you as it did with me. -- EPISODE 040 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode040 THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

You’re listening to The Joyful Mourning Podcast Episode #39. This episode is one of my favorite episodes to date and I am sure the words spoken by our guest will leave you changed. Listen in as I spend some time talking with Nancy Guthrie -- 20 years ago this wise woman experienced the loss of her daughter Hope and soon after she walked through loss a second time with her son Gabriel. Her story of loss is powerful and heart wrenching and will likely stir up questions about God’s character and His goodness amidst such loss -- at least that’s what Nancy’s story does in me. Nancy’s answers to my questions are challenging to hear but while they are challenging they are incredibly helpful and hopeful and truthful. This episode is a bit different than my others in that Nancy is farther removed from her suffering than all of our other guests and that is so helpful to us today, her voice on this can be trusted as she has lived it and walked it for so many years and time often offers a different and wiser perspective -- one that can see just a bit further down the road. Listen in to this woman who loved her babies and loves them still, you can hear her heart ache for eternity, you can hear her empathy and compassion for other women walking a similar journey of pregnancy loss or infant loss. You can also hear her love and trust in a God who knows all and sees all and is above all. A truth that feels difficult in the face of such loss and yet Nancy proclaims it with such certainty, a certainty that I am sure will encourage your heart today. Nancy mentions several helpful resources throughout our time together and I have linked them all in the show notes for this episode. You can find those over at themorning.com/episode039. DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE 7 DAY DEVOTIONAL www.themorning.com/devotional -- EPISODE 039 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode039 THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

Listen in as I talk with Denise Wolfe and Johanna Mutz. Cousins, best friends and founders of Laurel Box, a shop that offers thoughtful gifts for women who have experienced loss. Listen in as Johanna shares her story of miscarriage and all the things she would go back and say to the grieving Johanna then. Things like: “I wish I had given myself the rest I needed. I wish I had let myself be human.” If you are walking through a miscarriage right now, the wisdom Johanna offers in this episode is priceless. Denise shares what she has learned from walking alongside several friends and family members through loss, and what it means to really love someone who is grieving. Her tangible, practical advice is incredibly helpful and not at all burdensome. If you have ever wondered how to help your grieving friend or family member, this episode is for you. Johanna and Denise offer all the wisdom and practical advice for how to do so and how to do it well. These two women are such a joy and a gift to those who are hurting, and their passion for those who have experienced loss is genuine and from a place of truly desiring that those who feel broken would find healing and comfort. I am so grateful for these women and the way they are bringing light to dark places. You can find their beautiful shop and thoughtful hand-curated gift boxes over at www.laurelbox.com. Enjoy a 15% off discount at laurelbox with coupon code: TheMorning. -- EPISODE 038 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode038 THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

Listen in as I talk with Lianna Davis about what life and faith after she experienced the death of her daughter Noelle. Lianna shares about the moments immediately following her daughter’s death as well as the weeks and months and years that followed. She talks about how her faith was challenged and how she has grown in her understanding of who God is as a result of having walked through death and grief. We discuss difficult questions that one faces when confronted with death, questions about the truth of who God is, His character and His goodness and His presence. And Lianna answers questions like  “how could God use something this painful for His sovereign purposes? For good? How could He have a purpose for this?” She talks about a season of really grappling with whether or not all that she believed was even true -- exploring the thought that “maybe there are other possibilities besides Christianity maybe this isn’t really the only way and maybe i don’t need to hold so fast to these truths i have professed my entire life.” Listen in to hear how this wise woman reconciled those questions and in the end could say these words: “I just come back to the cross again, in the mind of the Lord that he would have such wisdom to turn such glory and such salvation from such a death -- that gives me the hope that He can do the same in our lives. That He can turn our pain into something that will ultimately bring honor and glory to Him.” Lianna’s knowledge and understanding of Scripture and theology is challenging in the best kind of way -- especially in light of what she has experienced. She trusts God and can say He is good even in the face of losing her daughter. If the Christian faith is something that feels foreign and unknown to you, or if you just aren’t at a place where you can say that “God is good” right now; I want you to know that I’m praying for you today and I think that while it may be challenging to hear or even believe this podcast episode has the potential to be very helpful to you. Know that I am praying for each and every one of you -- that God would meet you right where you are and remind you of His great love for you today. --- FREE DEVOTIONAL During out time together Lianna says “don’t let a season of doubt take you away from scripture”so if you are in a season where opening your bible feels too hard or it’s something you’ve never done before I wanted to make it really simple for you. I have a free 7 day devotional that I wrote specifically for women who have experienced the loss of a baby, 7 days of bible passages with a short devotion and prayer -- to download that free resource, simply head over to www.themorning.com/devotional And again, if you aren’t quite sure what to think about this christian faith or if  reading the Bible isn’t something you have ever done before, maybe give this a try. It’s super simple way to be introduced to this faith we talk about so much here. Either way, I pray that resource blesses you. -- EPISODE 037 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode037 THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

Listen in as chat with Lacey Rabalais about miscarriage and finding joy amidst the mourning. We talk about all the things, life after loss, pregnancy after loss, and how to love someone who is grieving in a way that is helpful and meaningful. Lacey also what she has learned since walking through loss and all the ways how she has grown and changed as a result of walking through the pain of miscarriage. She offers so much honesty and hope for a grieving mother and I am grateful for her tenderness and empathy for those walking this journey. --- DO YOU FEEL ALONE IN YOUR GRIEF? Join The Joyful Mourning Community! If you feel alone today and like there is no one in your life who understands what you are going through, come join our free online community, The Joyful Mourning Community. This community is a place where you will find women who have been through loss and understand what you are going through first hand. A place where you can talk honestly about how you are doing and ask questions to women who can give practical wisdom because they have been there too. To join the The Joyful Mourning Community, simply go to www.themorning.com/community for all the details on how to join. We would love to have you friend. -- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning EPISODE 036 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode036

Listen in as my special guest Natalie Young shares the story of her daughter Paisley. After a perfectly healthy pregnancy, Natalie experienced every mother’s worst nightmare when, at 23 weeks pregnant, Paisley’s heart unexpectedly stopped beating. Listen in as she shares how she found joy amidst the mourning. She also shares practical resources that were helpful to her individually in the days, weeks and months that followed her daughter’s death, as well as very helpful wisdom and resources for couples grieving the loss of a child. Natalie also shares what she has learned since walking through this horrific experience, how she has grown and changed and what she would say to a grieving mother walking through this pain today. Natalie is full of such tender empathy and grace as she speaks and I am so grateful that she shared her story with us today. -- RESOURCES MENTIONED IN EPISODE 035 Grieving the Child I Never Knew by Kathe Wunnenberg Through the Eyes of a Lion by Levi Lusko -- FREE 7 DAY DEVOTIONAL: HOPE FOR THE HURTING I wanted to share a resource with you that I thought might be helpful. In this episode Natalie talked how healing it was for her to work through a devotional that was specific to loss in the days following her daughter’s death; I wanted to tell you about a free 7 day devotional that I wrote specifically for women who have experienced the loss of a baby. 7 days of bible passages paired with a short devotion and prayer — if that sounds like something that would be helpful to you, simply head over to themorning.com/devotional to download yours. And if you aren’t quite sure about this faith and God thing or reading the Bible isn’t something you have ever done before, maybe give this a try. It’s a super simple way to be introduced to this faith we talk about so much here. Either way, I pray this free resource blesses you. -- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning EPISODE 035 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode035

Welcome to The Joyful Mourning Podcast Episode #34. In this week’s episode I get the honor of spending some time with Jana Bishop. She is a wife and a mom, a photographer and business owner. Jana has walked through so much pain and loss and yet joy just radiates from her voice -- I dare you not to smile in this episode, her joy, even after heartbreak after heartbreak is simply contagious. Listen in as Jana shares her journey of motherhood that has been wrought with loss beginning with her first pregnancy and then years of secondary infertility following the birth of her son Rowan. Jana’s story doesn’t end with a tidy bow that’s all wrapped up yet she speaks with tenderness and grace and like I said before, immense joy. What an encouragement and example she was to me during this interview and I am sure she will be to you as well. DO YOU FEEL ALONE? During our time together Jana says these words: “In order to heal and to grow amidst the pain, it is necessary to have other people you can talk with honestly and know that they’re going to understand what you’re saying without you even having to say it.” If you are looking for those people, the ones you can talk with honestly about how you are doing and know that they will understand -- come join our free online community, The Joyful Mourning Community. Simply head to thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com for all the details on how to join. We would love to have you join us, we would love to be that safe place for you. -- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning EPISODE 034 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode034

This week's special guest was the first woman I ever knew who had experienced a loss similar to mine. Her daughter Grace had died just days before my son and she reached out to me almost immediately. While we had mutual friends we had never met in person and yet we would now be linked together forever - members of a club that no woman ever wants to be a part of. She became my first grieving mom friend and we would email back and forth dozens of times in the following months and years, telling each other how we were praying for one another and thinking of each other’s babies. Today’s guest was such a gift to me and I am sure she will be a gift to you as well. Her name is Heather Young, a mama to 4 living miracle children, a mama who was told she would never be able to get pregnant on her own. Listen in as she shares the story of her daughter Grace and how losing her made everything else in life infinitely more precious and brought her to a more dependent relationship with Jesus.   Make sure you listen all the way to the end because the last few things Heather shares is absolute gold. Pure grace-filled, hope-filled wisdom that I know will encourage you today. And lastly, if you love someone who is grieving, Heather shares a bit of wisdom for you as well in the last few minutes of the podcast. No matter why you are here, I am grateful you are listening and I pray this episode encourages you and reminds you that you are not alone. DO YOU FEEL ALONE? If you feel alone today; if you are hurting and looking for someone who really understands what you are walking through, come join our free community by clicking here: The Joyful Mourning Community. There you will find hundreds of women who understand this pain first hand and can offer support and friendship and care. Come join us, I’d love to see you there. -- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning EPISODE 033 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode033

Listen in as I talk with an old friend, Sarah Sandel, who is wise and tender and just profoundly gifted with her words. Sarah’s view of God and love for God, even after such heartache is an example and encouragement to me today. Sarah shares her experience of 3 miscarriages and the loss of her 4 babies, she offers hope-filled validation for women who have experienced a 1st trimester miscarriage and may find themselves believing that this life was too short to matter; as she said: "It’s never JUST a miscarriage. This is a life that we can honor and that we can be thankful for, no matter how brief." Sarah also gives a few wise, wise words about how to handle the hard and disappointing things people sometimes say or do when you’re hurting. And if you are listening because you love someone grieving -- Sarah gives an abundance of wisdom for you in this episode about what is truly meaningful and helpful when your heart is breaking. Lastly, if you are fighting to believe God is good today, listen all the way to the end when Sarah finishes this sentence: "The goodness of God is not defined by…" Her definition of God’s goodness is challenging in the best kind of way. No matter what brought you here today, I am sure this episode is going to encourage you and challenge you and maybe make you wrestle a bit with who God is amidst your grief but it will also remind you that you are loved and that you aren’t alone in this journey. DO YOU FEEL ALONE? If you feel alone today; if you are hurting and need someone who really understands what you are walking through, come join our free community by going to www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com. You’ll find hundreds of women who understand this pain first hand and can offer support and friendship and care. Come join us, I’d love to see you there. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK If you love this podcast, would you do me a favor? Take just a few seconds after the episode to leave a review. Reviews help me to know that this content is helpful to you and reviews also ensure that other women like you can easily find this resource. --- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning EPISODE 032 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode032

Your mothering may look different than those around you or what you ever imagined it would be. But this day is for you too. Today I acknowledge you who are hurting this year. I see you. I have not forgotten. God has not forgotten. YOU are not forgotten. To the woman looking at yet another negative pregnancy test; I see you. To the woman holding only a memory of a heartbeat, I see you. To the woman staring at a gravestone, I see you. I see your bravery every time you smile and every time you get out of bed and every time you hold a baby that isn’t yours and every time you give the honest answer about how many children you have. I see your sacrifice when you show up to church or to work or to your best friend’s baby shower even though it hurts like hell. I see your selflessness when you put another’s needs above your own, even when your heart is breaking. I see your compassion when you weep over another’s story of loss and heartache. I see your faith when you praise the God who could have stopped this pain. I see you. And I am so grateful for your example. Your example has changed me. On a day when you might feel forgotten or lost or unsure of your place, know this: You are a mother. I see you. And I am so grateful for you. And more importantly, God sees you. Every sleepless night, every tear. Every single one. Psalm 56.8 says: “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle."  On this day that feels heavy and hard, I hope you know and treasure this above all else: that you are loved and seen today by a God who is powerful enough to heal your broken heart, a God who is ever-present, never leaving you alone, a God who is Sovereign, always in control, a God who is faithful, committed and loyal and constant, unwavering, a God who loves you unconditionally, with a never stopping never giving up unbreaking always and forever kind of love, a God who is attentive and aware. He sees you, He knows. And He has never left your side and He never will. Because He loves you. I pray you know and believe today that you are more loved than you could ever imagine. Happy Mother’s Day sweet friend. I’m praying for you today. --- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/mothers-day-hurting-mama/

Mother's Day is especially painful when your heart is longing for a baby. So on this week leading up to Mother's Day, a week that feels difficult, impossible even, I imagine you might be feeling like the Psalmist in Psalm 77 when he says: “in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints.” Maybe you feel far away from God. Maybe you feel like He is punishing you. Maybe you feel like He has forgotten to be gracious. Maybe you feel like His faithfulness has come to an end and that He is no longer compassionate. Spend the next few days with me as we diligently make an effort to remember the God we love and serve. Just like the Psalmist in Psalm 77 when, after his seemingly harsh lament towards God, says very decisively, “Then I said, ‘I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.’" (meaning I will call to mind all the ways I have seen Him work and what I know to be true from my past) and the psalmist goes on to say: “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.” Let’s spend a few minutes together each morning this week intentionally remembering who God is and what that means for us personally. DAY 05 : GOD IS ATTENTIVE The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in Spirit. Psalm 34:15, 17-18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. The Lord watches over all who love him, Psalm 145:20a WHAT DOES THIS TRUTH, THAT GOD IS ATTENTIVE, MEAN FOR ME? It means that I can trust that He sees me, that He knows, that He is aware. It means that God is alert, watchful, observant, mindful of my life and not just generally but very specifically -- even about details that really wouldn’t matter even to us, like how many times we will sit down and stand up today. (Psalm 139) He is not a distant God who is unaware. In fact, the opposite is true. He is near. He hears your cry. Even better, He knows your words before you even say them (again, Psalm 139). God’s care for you is so deep and so thorough He never misses a step or a word -- you are fully known by Him and fully loved. Maybe you feel unseen today. Unknown. Like no one around you knows how you feel or what you are walking through, how hard it was to get up this morning, how hard impossible joy feels, how big your doubts and how little your faith. Maybe you feel like your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling, that God isn’t listening. Maybe you are wondering if He is even real. What these verses tell us is that God is real and God is aware, He sees and He hears -- He is attentive to the cries of His children. And that means we can call out to Him knowing with full assurance that He hears us and He knows. --- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/specialepisode06

Mother's Day is especially painful when your heart is longing for a baby. So on this week leading up to Mother's Day, a week that feels difficult, impossible even, I imagine you might be feeling like the Psalmist in Psalm 77 when he says: “in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints.” Maybe you feel far away from God. Maybe you feel like He is punishing you. Maybe you feel like He has forgotten to be gracious. Maybe you feel like His faithfulness has come to an end and that He is no longer compassionate. Spend the next few days with me as we diligently make an effort to remember the God we love and serve. Just like the Psalmist in Psalm 77 when, after his seemingly harsh lament towards God, says very decisively, “Then I said, ‘I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.’" (meaning I will call to mind all the ways I have seen Him work and what I know to be true from my past) and the psalmist goes on to say: “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.” Let’s spend a few minutes together each morning this week intentionally remembering who God is and what that means for us personally. DAY 05 : GOD IS LOVE Romans 8:35, 37-39 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." What does the truth that God is love, mean for us today: It means that He is unconditionally committed to us. It means He would do anything for you and He showed that by sending Jesus to die on our behalf, there is no greater assurance of His love or His commitment to keep His promises than that moment on the cross. It is God’s essential nature to love and He shows that by loving a people who do not deserve it. A people who by their own nature are rebellious towards Him. This kind of love that is essential to God’s nature is not a feeling kind of love, God is bigger than mere sentiment. Rather this is sacrificial love. A love that dies for the sake of another. A love that forgives. A love that chases after those in need of rescue. A love that loves the unloveable. Romans 5:8 says “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” And this isn’t a generic blanket of love. No this is a personal and individual love. God loves you personally. That means you can trust Him with your life. With your grief. With your pain. With your deepest desires and your deepest fears. You can run to Him because He loves you more profoundly than you could ever imagine. This unconditional kind of love we see here in Romans 8 means there is nothing that could ever get in the way of His love for you. Not even your own self - not your anger or frustration or doubt or fear towards Him. Nothing can separate you from His love. He is unconditionally devoted to you -- whatever it takes. I love the way Sally Lloyd Jones describes God’s love for His children as - “never stopping, never giving up, unbreaking, always and forever kind of love.” --- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/specialepisode05

Mother's Day is especially painful when your heart is longing for a baby. So on this week leading up to Mother's Day, a week that feels difficult, impossible even, I imagine you might be feeling like the Psalmist in Psalm 77 when he says: “in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints.” Maybe you feel far away from God. Maybe you feel like He is punishing you. Maybe you feel like He has forgotten to be gracious. Maybe you feel like His faithfulness has come to an end and that He is no longer compassionate. Spend the next few days with me as we diligently make an effort to remember the God we love and serve. Just like the Psalmist in Psalm 77 when, after his seemingly harsh lament towards God, says very decisively, “Then I said, ‘I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.’" (meaning I will call to mind all the ways I have seen Him work and what I know to be true from my past) and the psalmist goes on to say: “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.” Let’s spend a few minutes together each morning this week intentionally remembering who God is and what that means for us personally. DAY 04 : GOD IS FAITHFUL Psalm 36:5, 7-9 "Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.” What does the truth that God is faithful, mean for me and you: First, what does it mean that God is faithful? It means that He is perfectly loyal, constant, true, devoted, unwavering, steadfast, dedicated, committed. So if God is faithful, committed, devoted, constant, unwavering and loyal that means I can trust Him to always keep His promises. That He will do what He has said He will do. He will accomplish what He sets out to accomplish. He keeps His promises. He promises to be my refuge and my strength. So that means that I can run to Him for refuge because I know he will always be there. I never have to doubt His constant presence. He promises that He will never leave me so that means I can go about my day knowing I am not alone in this. He promises to bring good from this heartache. That means I can joyfully search for the ways He is working to bring about redemption. He promises a future and a hope and an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading that He is guarding and keeping safe by His power so I can look toward the future knowing that my present circumstance is not the end. We see through human eyes and humanity is never perfectly loyal or perfectly committed or perfectly constant so it is difficult to imagine a God who is. But the truth is: His faithfulness is not fickle. It does not depend on our ability to love Him in return or our ability to live a faithful life. He is faithful because He is faithful -- His constancy and commitment is not dependent on how big our faith is or how good we are or how well we are handling our grief. It is because He is a good God who’s faithfulness is without measure. It reaches to the heavens. It has no bounds. There is nothing you could do or have done that would ever limit His faithfulness or His love towards you. And because His faithfulness never wavers you can trust Him to keep His promises. --- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/specialepisode04

Mother's Day is especially painful when your heart is longing for a baby. So on this week leading up to Mother's Day, a week that feels difficult, impossible even, I imagine you might be feeling like the Psalmist in Psalm 77 when he says: “in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints.” Maybe you feel far away from God. Maybe you feel like He is punishing you. Maybe you feel like He has forgotten to be gracious. Maybe you feel like His faithfulness has come to an end and that He is no longer compassionate. Spend the next few days with me as we diligently make an effort to remember the God we love and serve. Just like the Psalmist in Psalm 77 when, after his seemingly harsh lament towards God, says very decisively, “Then I said, ‘I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.’" (meaning I will call to mind all the ways I have seen Him work and what I know to be true from my past) and the psalmist goes on to say: “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.” Let’s spend a few minutes together each morning this week intentionally remembering who God is and what that means for us personally. DAY 03 : GOD IS SOVEREIGN Daniel 4:34-35 "At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?”" Psalm 115:3 Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. Psalm 135:5-7 For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses. What does this truth about who God is, that He is Sovereign, mean for me and mean for you? First, let’s talk about what the word Sovereign means -- if we were to look it up in a dictionary we would see “supreme ruler” or possessing “supreme or ultimate authority or power” But what does that mean when we apply it to God? It means that He is the ultimate source of all power, authority and everything that exists. It means that there is absolutely nothing that happens in the universe that is outside of God’s influence and authority because He is over all and above all. He has no limitations. This attribute of God, His being sovereign, over all and above all, supreme and ultimate power and authority, is what makes Him superior to all other gods and makes Him, and Him alone, worthy of worship. Worthy of our trust. So what does that mean for you and me today; how does God being sovereign help me in the middle of my pain? In the middle of my paralyzing fear? It means that if He is over all and above all, and if nothing happens in the universe that is outside of His authority or His control then I am safe. It means I don’t have to be afraid or live in fear because He is in control. It means I can live with a joy even amidst my pain because I know that He has not forgotten me, He sees me, He loves me more deeply than I can ever imagine so I can trust that what is in front of me can be used for my good and His glory. Even when it hurts. --- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/specialepisode03