Book Recommendation: Hannah's Hope

In mid-January when we were right at the beginning of learning about the severity of our infertility, I did an online search for resources written by Christian women who had experienced infertility. This book was mentioned on almost every blog, so I went ahead and purchased it. I am very thankful I did.

Hannah's Hope is written by Jennifer Saake, a woman who has experienced ten miscarriages and failed adoptions. She and her husband created a nonprofit organization, Hannah's Prayer Ministries, to help couples struggling with infertility, miscarriage, and adoption loss. She deeply and personally understands these painful struggles.

As you can probably assume from the title, the author frames her book around Hannah from the Bible. Hannah is a woman deeply saddened by her inability to conceive. 1 Samuel 1-2 tells the story of God's work in her life. Ultimately, Hannah does give birth to a son, Samuel, whom she gives over to the Lord. Samuel came into existence according to God's perfect plan for his life as well as for Hannah's.

One thing I really appreciated about this book is that Mrs. Saake emphasized the fact that God does allow some couples struggling with infertility to become pregnant; however, that is not always the way God answers the desire for children. Some couples have the honor of adopting children, and others choose to love the children of friends and family. I appreciated at one point in the book she mentioned that, "God may surprise you by the ways He answers your heart's cry." Even though we may be surprised by His plan, it is ultimately far greater than our own.

In this book, Mrs. Saake addresses the anger, sadness, and hope that sometimes come with struggling to have a child. As she writes, she does so from personal experience, but more notably using biblical truth.

One section of this book that could be very helpful for many people is the section at the end of each chapter entitled "Burden Bearers." This section is written for friends, family, and church leaders who are supporting or counseling people struggling with infertility. Each section offers useful tips about what to say and what might be hurtful, whether intended or not.

I would most definitely consider this book a "must read" for anyone who has a friend or family member dealing with infertility, anyone who has walked the road of infertility, or anyone who counsels people struggling with infertility. While the cover of the book is distinctly feminine, Cliff initially read the book to gain a deeper understanding into what I might be feeling, but found it incredibly helpful for himself.

Apart from Scripture, this book has been the most helpful to me in our struggle with infertility.