Praise You In The Storm

A Painful Kind Of Holy: Experiencing God’s Tender Mercies And Faithful Presence Before, During And After Miscarriage by Holly Joy Clemente is a powerful and heart breaking read surrounding her sixth pregnancy that ended in miscarriage. It is also about her faith in a God who never left her but walked through the valley with her. Holly Joy Clemente describes the pain of loss as, “It is always too soon. And it hurts in the way nothing else can ever hurt.”

Not once did Holly Joy Clemente lose sight of God. She gave Him her tears, her confusion and her anger. In return, she received His love. “God is good… I didn’t understand it, but I knew God was there, and I knew I could trust Him even as I felt I was drowning.” She describes the experience as holy because “Holy is anywhere that God is “ and God was right beside her. Like David in the Psalms, Holly Joy Clemente urges us to be real with God. “God can take our pain.” Nothing we ever experience comes as a surprise to God.

There were two choices for Holly Joy Clemente – she could choose fear and anxiety or she could choose to trust God. “I will trust His story, even when I don’t understand it… and in the depths of grief.”

For Holly Joy Clemente it was important for her to still praise God. She listened to Casting Crown’s Praise You In The Storm and Matt Redman’s Blessed Be Your Name. God felt close to the broken hearted Holly Joy Clemente.

This book is incredibly powerful. It is incredibly sad and it is incredibly honest. Each chapter has a ‘Feelings I recorded’ and a ‘Lining up with scripture’ section. Holly Joy Clemente is honest about her feelings, faith and experiences as well as offering this advice to anyone who has suffered a miscarriage:

• Be gentle with yourself
• Allow time and space to grieve
• Open your heart to Jesus

This book will break your heart. It will also restore your faith in the God who always walks beside us. It is a helpful book for those trying to support loved ones through miscarriage. I think it would be helpful for those who have suffered a miscarriage too, to know that they are not alone.

I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

JULIA WILSON

I will leave you with the poem that Holly Joy Clemente wrote:

Though I never held you

You left an ache in my heart

And a space in my life that will always be

Though I never saw your face

You were wanted beyond imagination

And loved with every breath

Though your time with me

Was far too short

You are a part of me…

FOREVER.