Weary of the long path to become a parent? Whether you or a family member is battling infertility, this trusted, encouraging 90-day devotional will comfort and strengthen you.

Written by men and women who have faced infertility themselves with various outcomes, this book reminds you that you are not alone and will help set your heart free from fear.

Compiled by acclaimed writer, speaker, and broadcaster Sheridan Voysey, Praying Through Infertility is written to let you know that you are:

• Not alone in your sadness, anger, or confusion
• Not alone when you feel jealous of parents who have what you want
• Not alone when a giggling child brings not delight but grief
• Not alone in wondering who you'll be if you never become a mom or dad

Praying Through Infertility doesn't offer advice on treatments or give spiritual formulas for miracle conceptions. Instead, it offers an empathetic and hopeful accompaniment through the long dark night you are walking through.

Each daily devotional includes:

• Scripture verse and prayer
• Inspirational story where fears and anger are transformed into confident expectation and pure worship
• Intentional tip of the day to help you personally encounter God
• Prayer references for encouragement

Some of the contributors have been blessed with biological children, some have formed families through fostering or adoption, others are walking forward childless, and a few are still on the path. They have experienced many of the medical options available, from IVF to donor eggs and sperm. What they share is an experience of infertility's dark depths, and a faith that's held strong through the testing.

An honest look at the messiness of life when you are forced to live the life you didn't imagine.

Salt Water and Honey is a story about pregnancy loss and childlessness that doesn't end with a baby. It's told from the messy middle, allowing space for the tension between faith and loss to remain rather than trying to neaten it up with solutions and reasons. Lizzie has experienced the pain of multiple miscarriages and writes honestly about her struggle and fight to find God in her suffering. She is honest about the low points and the pain, but she also shares her journey as she comes to understand that her true identity is not defined by motherhood but by being a child of God.

Lizzie's story provides a safe space to remind people that they're not alone, it's okay to grieve and their story matters. Covering many universal truths such as unanswered prayer, grief, disappointment, vulnerability and faith in crisis this book is actually for anyone who has lost their dream and is struggling to understand that their story still has meaning and purpose even when life looks nothing like they hoped it would.

Losing a baby whether through miscarriage stillbirth or neonatal death leaves so many parents lost in grief and full of unanswered questions.

Zoe Clark-Coates and her husband Andy have personally faced the loss of five babies. Out of their experiences came the charity The Mariposa Trust (more often known by its leading division Saying Goodbye) offering support to thousands of grieving parents and relatives around the world each week.

Now Zoe writes a moving account of their experiences and how they found a way through to provide help and support for others.

Alongside this are 90 days of daily support for those who are grieving offering comfort and hope during the difficult days weeks and months.

The wait… There she was again, in the corner of the room, rocking backwards and forwards, hugging her knees tightly to her chest. She wouldn't move from this spot until all her crying was done for the day. This girl in the corner was barely recognisable from the happy-go-lucky, maybe a little naïve, girl who had loved till it hurt…This is who I had become over the course of a few deeply painful years of waiting and trying for children. In my corner I felt like I was outside of myself, looking down on a mess of a human being

Who was this person? This wasn't me was it?

Recommendations

Remarkable for its honesty and raw vulnerability – no sugar coating here! While Lucy's own story is about infertility and waiting for a baby, the book she's written is actually relevant to any of us experiencing personal pain, whatever it may look like.

Revd Canon Archie Coates. Vicar, Holy Trinity Brompton

This is such a helpful book, addressing the silent pain of childlessness and the complex joy. Lucy writes honestly and with wonderful warmth. I'm quite sure that her story is going to bring comfort and hope to many, many people.

Pete Greig, 24-7 Prayer International

The pain of infertility can be almost unbearable and often very difficult to talk about. I am delighted that Lucy West has written this book to encourage others that they are not alone and that there is hope along the journey.

Nicky Gumbel

Lucy has courageously shared hers and Lindz's precious story of hope and heartbreak at becoming parents. It's something that so many of us take for granted. Lucy's honesty will shock some but comfort others and hopefully educate some who are oblivious to what couples go through on their parenting journey. This isn't just a book for those who can empathise but really is a book to help people sympathise; it offers insight, understanding, suggestions and mostly, hope. I am so proud of my friend for sharing something so incredibly personal and stand with her in solidarity for this lovingly supporting everyone who needs it.

Gemma Hunt

We've long admired our friends Lucy and Lindz for the way they've navigated their story of starting a family. After reading Lucy's wonderful new book, we admire them even more. In The Wait we're invited deep inside their journey – from infertility through to adoption. Along the way are many raw emotions, agonising prayers and painful questions. Yet running through it all is a thread of hope and their faith in God – and ultimately this is a redemptive story. This is a powerful read and will help many!

Matt and Beth Redman