Cradled in Hope | Podcast for Grieving Moms | Biblical Hope for Miscarriage, Stillbirth, & Infant Loss

In this heartfelt episode, Ashley welcomes James Shove to share the story behind his powerful song, Jealous That Heaven's Your Home. James' wife, Emily, was previously on our podcast on Episode 61, but in this conversation, James offers a unique perspective as a grieving father navigating the loss of their son, Phoenix.

Together, Ashley and James discuss the excitement of expecting a baby, the heartbreak of miscarriage, and the often-overlooked grief experienced by fathers. James vulnerably shares his struggles with depression, anxiety, emotional expression, and how poetry, music, and prayer became a pathway for processing his grief. Through the writing of this song, he wrestled with questions about Heaven, longing for his son, and the hope found in Christ's promises.

This episode is an honest conversation about pain, healing, fatherhood, and eternity. It reminds grieving parents that while loss leaves an ache that remains, we can hold onto the hope that our children are safe with Jesus and that Heaven is ultimately our Hhome too.

In this episode, we discussed:

• James and Emily's journey of expecting their son Phoenix and the heartbreak of miscarriage
• The unique grief fathers experience and the pressure many dads feel to stay strong during loss
• Allowing yourself to feel grief while also supporting your spouse through suffering
• James's personal struggles with depression, anxiety, and expressing difficult emotions
• Wrestling with the biblical question of whether babies are in Heaven and finding hope in Scripture
• The inspiration behind the song Jealous That Heaven's Your Home
• How songwriting became one of the most healing experiences in James's grief journey
• Why James hopes the song serves as a stepping stone toward healing for grieving families
• James's experience attending Wave of Light and how remembrance events can help grieving parents process loss
• Holding both sorrow and hope at the same time as we wait for eternity with our children

If you have ever wrestled with questions about Heaven, struggled to express your grief, or felt the ache of missing your child while longing for eternity, this episode will resonate deeply. Through James's story and song, listeners are reminded that grief and hope can coexist—and that because of Jesus, our separation from our children is temporary, our hope is secure, and Heaven truly is our Home.

GET THE BOOK! Cradled in Hope is sold on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, Christianbook, and Baker Bookhouse.
[www.bridgetscradles.com/book]

EPISODE SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT:
[www.bridgetscradles.com/post/episode72]

• CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:
Sign up here to receive email updates and hope-filled resources
[www.bridgetscradles.com/podcast]

• CRADLED IN HOPE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR GRIEVING MOMS:
[www.facebook.com/groups/cradledinhope]

• FOLLOW BRIDGET'S CRADLES
[www.facebook.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.instagram.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.pinterest.com/bridgetscradles]

• CONNECT WITH THE HOST | ASHLEY OPLIGER
[www.ashleyopliger.com]
[www.facebook.com/ashleyopliger]
[www.instagram.com/ashleyopliger]

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In this hope-filled episode, Ashley welcomes author, speaker, and fellow Bethany House author Lisa Appelo to discuss her new devotional, God of Comfort. After losing her husband unexpectedly and later walking alongside her son and daughter-in-law through the stillbirth of their baby, Lisa shares how grief transformed her faith, priorities, and understanding of God's presence in suffering.

Together, Ashley and Lisa explore the unique challenges of devastating loss, the lies grief often whispers to hurting hearts, and the biblical practice of bringing our deepest questions, fears, and emotions directly to God. Through personal stories, Scripture, and honest reflection, they discuss surrender, God's sovereignty, the hope of Heaven, and the comfort available to every grieving heart through Christ.

This conversation offers encouragement that God is not intimidated by your questions, your tears, or your pain. He invites you to bring it all to Him and discover that the pathway through grief is not a formula or a set of stages—but the God of all comfort Himself.

In this episode, we discussed:

• Lisa's story of unexpectedly losing her husband, Dan, overnight, and becoming a widow with seven children
• Walking through the recent stillbirth of her grandson and supporting her grieving son and daughter-in-law
• How grandparents experience a unique "double grief" when a grandchild dies
• Practical ways to support grieving families without inserting your own story or taking control
• The lies grief often whispers, including fears that joy will never return
• Regret, guilt, and the "what if" questions that frequently accompany loss
• Learning to surrender control and trust God's sovereignty when life does not make sense
• Letting go of the life you expected and embracing the life God has given you
• The sanctifying work God accomplishes through suffering and grief
• Why grief is not a tidy process and cannot be reduced to a series of stages
• Wrestling with the question "Why?" and learning to trust God's character even without answers
• How suffering deepens our longing for Heaven and reshapes our earthly priorities
• The gifts that can emerge from grief, including compassion, intimacy with God, and eternal perspective
• Lisa's devotional God of Comfort and how it helps grieving people encounter God's character through Scripture, prayer, journaling, and reflection
• Finding hope in the truth that God comforts us so we can comfort others with the same comfort we have received from Him

This conversation is a beautiful reminder that grief may change us, but it does not have the final word. As Lisa shares, the way through grief is not found in a method, a timeline, or a set of steps—it is found in a Person. If you are carrying sorrow, wrestling with unanswered questions, or wondering if joy will ever return, this episode will encourage you to bring your broken heart to the God of Comfort, who sees you, loves you, and promises to walk with you every step of the journey.

GET THE BOOK! Cradled in Hope is sold on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, Christianbook, and Baker Bookhouse.
[www.bridgetscradles.com/book]

EPISODE SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT:
[www.bridgetscradles.com/post/episode71]

• CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:
Sign up here to receive email updates and hope-filled resources
[www.bridgetscradles.com/podcast]

• CRADLED IN HOPE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR GRIEVING MOMS:
[www.facebook.com/groups/cradledinhope]

• FOLLOW BRIDGET'S CRADLES
[www.facebook.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.instagram.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.pinterest.com/bridgetscradles]

• CONNECT WITH THE HOST | ASHLEY OPLIGER
[www.ashleyopliger.com]
[www.facebook.com/ashleyopliger]
[www.instagram.com/ashleyopliger]

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In this moving episode, Ashley welcomes her friend Aubrey Pavlacka to share the story of her daughter, Timber Kai. What began as a joyful babymoon in Kauai quickly became a devastating journey through premature labor, ten days of hospitalization, and the heartbreaking loss of a much-loved baby girl at 22 weeks.

With remarkable honesty, Aubrey recounts the days she spent fighting to keep Timber alive, the faith that sustained her through unimaginable uncertainty, and the grief that followed after returning home without her daughter. Together, Ashley and Aubrey explore difficult questions about suffering, unanswered prayers, pregnancy after loss, and the tension of holding both deep sorrow and deep hope at the same time.

Throughout the conversation, they reflect on God's faithfulness in grief, the promise of Heaven, and the ways a baby's life can continue to impact others. This episode is a powerful reminder that while loss changes us forever, our hope in Christ remains secure.

In this episode, we discussed:

• Aubrey's pregnancy with Timber and the unexpected complications that began during a trip to Kauai
• Giving birth to Timber at 22 weeks and the precious hours Aubrey and Justin spent with her
• Returning home after loss and navigating the early days of grief
• How Exodus 14:14 ("The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still") became an anchor during the crisis
• Wrestling with unanswered prayers while continuing to trust God's character
• The impact Timber's life had on others and how God continues to use her story
• Pregnancy after loss, cervical insufficiency, and the anxiety of carrying another baby
• Honest conversations about "what ifs," regrets, and the realities of being a grieving mother
• Raising children with an awareness of Heaven and helping siblings know and remember their sister
• How grief reshaped priorities, family life, and Aubrey's perspective on what matters most
• Finding hope in the promise of reunion and eternity with our children in Heaven

If you are grieving a baby, struggling with unanswered questions, navigating pregnancy after loss, or longing for reassurance that your child's life mattered, this conversation will encourage your heart. Aubrey's story is a beautiful testimony of faith in the midst of heartbreak, reminding us that while we may not understand every part of our suffering, we can trust the God who walks with us through it—and cling to the hope that one day we will be reunited with our children in Heaven.

GET THE BOOK! Cradled in Hope is sold on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, Christianbook, and Baker Bookhouse.
[www.bridgetscradles.com/book]

EPISODE SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT:
[www.bridgetscradles.com/post/episode70]

• CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:
Sign up here to receive email updates and hope-filled resources
[www.bridgetscradles.com/podcast]

• CRADLED IN HOPE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR GRIEVING MOMS:
[www.facebook.com/groups/cradledinhope]

• FOLLOW BRIDGET'S CRADLES
[www.facebook.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.instagram.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.pinterest.com/bridgetscradles]

• CONNECT WITH THE HOST | ASHLEY OPLIGER
[www.ashleyopliger.com]
[www.facebook.com/ashleyopliger]
[www.instagram.com/ashleyopliger]

#cradledinhope #cradledinhopepodcast #bridgetscradles

In this deeply vulnerable and spiritually honest episode, Ashley welcomes Lisa Rowell—host of the Silent Footprints Podcast and founder of Julianna Grace Ministry—for a conversation that moves beyond advocacy into the raw realities of grief, mental health, spiritual warfare, and identity in Christ.

Lisa has become a powerful voice for families impacted by pregnancy and infant loss—providing grief boxes worldwide, helping pass the Stillbirth Prevention Act in Louisiana, advocating for the Shine for Autumn Act, and funding cooling cots for hospitals.

Together, Ashley and Lisa speak candidly about the mental health struggles that can follow loss, including seasons of despair and even suicidal thoughts. They discuss how grief can open the door to spiritual warfare, lies from the enemy, and distorted views of God—especially when father wounds shape how we interpret suffering. They explore the tension between faith and works, the temptation to strive for healing through doing, and what it means to transform heartbreak into holy purpose.

In this episode, we discussed:

• Lisa’s story and the founding of Julianna Grace Ministry
• How grief boxes provide tangible comfort and remind parents they are not alone
• The mental health impact of grief, including suicidal thoughts and despair
• Spiritual warfare and the enemy’s lies during vulnerable seasons
• The importance of cooling cots and giving families time and dignity to say goodbye
• Legislative advocacy surrounding stillbirth and infant loss, including the Stillbirth Prevention Act and the Shine for Autumn Act
• What it means to carry your baby’s legacy forward through action
• Advocacy as a form of love, remembrance, and honoring our children
• The spiritual tension between faith and works—serving from love vs. striving for worth
• How grief can expose deeper wounds, including father wounds that affect how we see God
• The sacred responsibility of stewarding our babies’ legacies

This episode is both tender and empowering—a reminder that while we never would have chosen this path, God can use even our deepest sorrow to bring comfort, awareness, and change. Whether you are newly grieving or years into your journey, this episode offers encouragement that your baby’s life matters—and your voice does too.

GET THE BOOK! Cradled in Hope is sold on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, Christianbook, and Baker Bookhouse.
[www.bridgetscradles.com/book]

EPISODE SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT:
[www.bridgetscradles.com/post/episode69]

• CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:
Sign up here to receive email updates and hope-filled resources
[www.bridgetscradles.com/podcast]

• CRADLED IN HOPE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR GRIEVING MOMS:
[www.facebook.com/groups/cradledinhope]

• FOLLOW BRIDGET'S CRADLES
[www.facebook.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.instagram.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.pinterest.com/bridgetscradles]

• CONNECT WITH THE HOST | ASHLEY OPLIGER
[www.ashleyopliger.com]
[www.facebook.com/ashleyopliger]
[www.instagram.com/ashleyopliger]

#cradledinhope #cradledinhopepodcast #bridgetscradles

In this heartfelt and powerful Father’s Day episode, Ashley welcomes back her friend and returning guest, Eric Schumacher. Eric is a pastor, biblical counselor, husband, and father of nine children—five on earth and four in Heaven. Through his own journey of miscarriage and grief, Eric has become a compassionate voice for grieving dads, and today he joins us to share about his newest book: Dads Hurt Too: A Father’s Memoir of Miscarriage.

Together, Ashley and Eric have an honest, gospel-centered conversation about the often-overlooked grief of fathers who have lost a baby. Eric vulnerably shares the raw emotions he experienced during each of his family’s four miscarriages—and the spiritual battle he faced with what he calls the “little foxes” of comparison, shame, culture, and loneliness. Through Scripture, story, and deep theology, Eric offers dads a pathway to healing: not by hiding their pain, but by bringing it into the light of Christ.

Whether you are a grieving father, a wife who wants to better understand her husband’s grief, or a ministry leader supporting families through loss—this episode will give you language for the ache, truth for the lies, and hope rooted in the character of God.

In this episode, we discussed:

• Why Eric wrote Dads Hurt Too and the story behind its humble beginnings
• Why men often grieve miscarriage in silence and how shame or comparison can silence their sorrow
• The “four foxes” that threaten our healing: comparison, shame, culture, and loneliness
• What it means to abide in Christ when grief feels isolating and unspoken
• How Jesus’ own grief, sorrow, and physical weakness give men permission to feel and express emotion
• The danger of believing false gospels in the midst of suffering—and how right theology leads to deeper healing
• The importance of spiritual community and safe spaces where dads can be honest about their pain
• How the culture’s devaluation of life impacts grieving parents, and how Scripture restores the dignity of every baby lost
• The true gospel of Jesus: that He meets us in our sorrow, carries our burdens, and will return to make all things new

This episode is an invitation for every dad to know: Your grief matters. You are not alone. And Jesus sees you. He is the perfect Father who draws near to the brokenhearted—and He promises to one day restore what has been lost.

GET THE BOOK! Cradled in Hope is sold on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, Christianbook, and Baker Bookhouse.
[www.bridgetscradles.com/book]

EPISODE SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT:
[www.bridgetscradles.com/post/episode68]

• CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:
Sign up here to receive email updates and hope-filled resources
[www.bridgetscradles.com/podcast]

• CRADLED IN HOPE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR GRIEVING MOMS:
[www.facebook.com/groups/cradledinhope]

• FOLLOW BRIDGET'S CRADLES
[www.facebook.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.instagram.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.pinterest.com/bridgetscradles]

• CONNECT WITH THE HOST | ASHLEY OPLIGER
[www.ashleyopliger.com]
[www.facebook.com/ashleyopliger]
[www.instagram.com/ashleyopliger]

#cradledinhope #cradledinhopepodcast #bridgetscradles

In this deeply moving episode, Ashley welcomes Emily Curtis—author, poet, and founder of Hope in the Mourning—to share her story of layered grief, enduring faith, and Gospel-centered hope. What unfolds is a sacred conversation about sorrow upon sorrow: multiple pregnancy losses and the death of her beloved father.

Emily invites listeners into the holy space of lament. Through poetry, Scripture, testimony, and raw honesty, this episode creates room for sorrow to be named, carried, and surrendered before a God who sees every tear and remains steadfastly good.

This conversation is both tender and theologically rich, offering comfort to grieving mothers while equipping the Church to love better. Whether you are walking through miscarriage, compounded grief, or supporting someone who is, this episode offers language for pain, permission to lament, and hope rooted firmly in Christ.

In this episode, we discussed:

• Navigating compound grief—when sorrow stacks upon sorrow
• Wrestling honestly with God when grief feels unfair or overwhelming
• Why lament is biblical (and how to lament, based on the pattern of the Psalms)
• Naming babies in Heaven and the healing power of honoring their lives
• What not to say to grieving parents and why Christian platitudes aren't helpful
• The ministry and mission behind Hope in the Mourning 
• Poetry as a form of lament, worship, and hope

GET THE BOOK! Cradled in Hope is sold on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, Christianbook, and Baker Bookhouse.
[www.bridgetscradles.com/book]

EPISODE SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT:
[www.bridgetscradles.com/post/episode67]

• CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:
Sign up here to receive email updates and hope-filled resources
[www.bridgetscradles.com/podcast]

• CRADLED IN HOPE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR GRIEVING MOMS:
[www.facebook.com/groups/cradledinhope]

• FOLLOW BRIDGET'S CRADLES
[www.facebook.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.instagram.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.pinterest.com/bridgetscradles]

• CONNECT WITH THE HOST | ASHLEY OPLIGER
[www.ashleyopliger.com]
[www.facebook.com/ashleyopliger]
[www.instagram.com/ashleyopliger]

#cradledinhope #cradledinhopepodcast #bridgetscradles

In this very special episode, Ashley welcomes her longtime friend and behind-the-scenes podcast team member, Maria Childs, to the microphone. Maria has faithfully served Cradled in Hope since its launch in 2021, designing the beautiful graphics and quote carousels that listeners see each week. But in this sacred conversation, Maria steps out from behind the screen to share her deeply personal story of grief, faith, and healing.

Maria opens her heart about the stillbirth of her daughter, Taylor Ann, at 39 weeks, and the early miscarriage she experienced just six months later. She shares how her grief led her to Bridget’s Cradles through a sticker giveaway (yes—really!), and how God used a Facebook post to begin a redemptive story of connection, service, and purpose.

Together, Ashley and Maria reflect on the power of community, the healing that comes through telling your story, and how serving grieving moms has helped Maria honor her babies in Heaven while encouraging others through their pain. This episode is a beautiful testimony of how God brings purpose from heartbreak and knits friendships together through shared sorrow and eternal hope.

In this episode, we discussed:

• The traumatic experience of arriving at the hospital expecting to meet her baby—only to hear the words no parent should ever hear
• The shock and confusion of receiving no medical explanation for Taylor’s passing, and the miscarriage that followed six months later
• How God led Maria to Cradled in Hope through a social media giveaway, and how she messaged Ashley after Episode 1, saying, “I want to come to the little blue barn.”
• The journey of moving from silent sorrow to openly sharing her story—and how each Bridget's Cradles event and connection helped her find the courage to speak her daughter’s name
• Maria’s work as a graphic designer, and how using her gifts for the podcast became a healing outlet and purposeful way to honor her babies
• The Facebook group ministry and how Maria lovingly welcomes grieving moms through personal messages and prayerful connection
• Why answering the question, “How many children do you have?” is hard—and how Maria learned to confidently include her babies in Heaven
• Her bold step of faith in speaking at Manhattan, Kansas’ Pregnancy & Infant Loss event, and how Bridget’s Cradles resources helped other families that day
• The importance of walking with moms in fresh grief while also pointing them toward the hope of healing and the promise of Heaven
• Maria’s favorite chapter from Ashley's book, Cradled in Hope, and how she rereads it when grief resurfaces
• How Cradled in Hope and the podcast offer gospel truth in a variety of voices and stories—all pointing to the same eternal hope
• Maria’s favorite verse, Matthew 6:34, and how God has gently led her to take each day as it comes

Whether you’re in the crashing waves of fresh grief or standing on the shore years later, this episode reminds us that community, compassion, and Christ-centered truth are essential to healing. Maria’s story is a beautiful testimony of pain transformed into purpose—and of a mom who continues to serve, create, and share in memory of the babies she will one day hold again.

GET THE BOOK! Cradled in Hope is sold on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, Christianbook, and Baker Bookhouse.
[www.bridgetscradles.com/book]

EPISODE SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT:
[www.bridgetscradles.com/post/episode66]

• CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:
Sign up here to receive email updates and hope-filled resources
[www.bridgetscradles.com/podcast]

• CRADLED IN HOPE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR GRIEVING MOMS:
[www.facebook.com/groups/cradledinhope]

• FOLLOW BRIDGET'S CRADLES
[www.facebook.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.instagram.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.pinterest.com/bridgetscradles]

• CONNECT WITH THE HOST | ASHLEY OPLIGER
[www.ashleyopliger.com]
[www.facebook.com/ashleyopliger]
[www.instagram.com/ashleyopliger]

#cradledinhope #cradledinhopepodcast #bridgetscradles

In this honest and powerful episode, Ashley welcomes Anne Cockrell—wife, mom, and cohost of Hannah’s Heart on American Family Radio—to share her remarkable story of faith, surrender, loss, and hope. Anne vulnerably walks us through her journey of infertility, miscarriage, foster care, adoption, and the heartbreaking loss of her baby boy, John-Micah, who lived 27 precious minutes on earth before entering eternity.

With wisdom and a tender spirit, Anne shares how God met her in the moments of deepest grief—from chemical pregnancies and delayed diagnoses to a traumatic emergency C-section and saying goodbye far too soon. She also beautifully shares how God brought life and redemption through the births of her daughters, the adoption of her son, and the sacred calling of foster care.

This episode is a gentle reminder that love is always worth the risk—and that Jesus is faithful to meet us in every part of our story. Whether you’re walking through infertility, pregnancy after loss, or discerning your next step in growing your family, Anne’s story will comfort and encourage your heart.

In this episode, we discussed:

• Anne and her husband's unexpected road through infertility and loss
• The heartbreak of multiple early miscarriages and the confusing grief of chemical pregnancies
• Their decision to pursue foster care and how loving children in crisis shaped their hearts and faith
• The bittersweet beauty of adoption and the complex emotions that come with it
• The power of surrender—Anne’s pivotal moment at the washing machine when she fully gave her motherhood journey to God
• How God surprised them with two miracle pregnancies after surrendering fertility treatments and plans
• The story of Anne’s son, John-Micah, and the devastating day she delivered him via emergency C-section at 26 weeks
• How it felt to hold her son after his passing, and the powerful peace of God's presence in the hospital room
• Why Anne would do it all again—just to hold her son one more time
• How God led Anne to cohost Hannah’s Heart on American Family Radio, and how the ministry now supports families walking through infertility, miscarriage, and loss
• The inspiration behind the name Hannah’s Heart and what it means to offer your answered prayers back to God

If you’re facing an uncertain path, longing for motherhood, or grieving a baby you never got to raise, this episode will speak directly to your heart. Through every twist and turn, God is writing a redemptive story—and He is holding both you and your baby in His love.

GET THE BOOK! Cradled in Hope is sold on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, Christianbook, and Baker Bookhouse.
[www.bridgetscradles.com/book]

EPISODE SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT:
[www.bridgetscradles.com/post/episode65]

• CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:
Sign up here to receive email updates and hope-filled resources
[www.bridgetscradles.com/podcast]

• CRADLED IN HOPE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR GRIEVING MOMS:
[www.facebook.com/groups/cradledinhope]

• FOLLOW BRIDGET'S CRADLES
[www.facebook.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.instagram.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.pinterest.com/bridgetscradles]

• CONNECT WITH THE HOST | ASHLEY OPLIGER
[www.ashleyopliger.com]
[www.facebook.com/ashleyopliger]
[www.instagram.com/ashleyopliger]

#cradledinhope #cradledinhopepodcast #bridgetscradles

Ashley welcomes longtime friends Tim and Yolanda Thomas to the Cradled in Hope podcast to share their journey through back-to-back pregnancy losses and the long road of grief, healing, and hope that followed.

Tim and Yolanda share the stories of their daughters, Abundynce and Joyana, and speak candidly about what it was like to walk through compounded loss, unanswered questions, and seasons of deep darkness—both individually and as a married couple. With humility and grace, they reflect on how grief tested their faith, strained communication, and reshaped their understanding of suffering, while also drawing them into a deeper dependence on the sovereignty of God.

This episode offers a rare and compassionate look at grief from both a mother’s and a father’s perspective, addressing the realities of grieving differently in marriage, navigating church hurt, and learning how to honor the lives of babies in Heaven while still allowing joy to return.

In this episode, we discussed:

• Walking through compounded grief after back-to-back losses and the weight of unanswered questions

• Grieving differently as husband and wife—and learning to honor each other’s timelines

• How pregnancy and infant loss impact marriage, parenting, and family life

• Wrestling with God’s sovereignty and finding rest when answers don’t come

• The pain of church hurt, Christian clichés, and feeling unseen in grief

• Why “weeping with those who weep” matters more than fixing or explaining suffering

• Releasing guilt around “moving forward” and understanding that joy does not erase love or remembrance

• The eternal perspective: trusting that our babies are safely held in the arms of Jesus

Whether you are newly grieving, walking through loss as a couple, or seeking to better support someone who is suffering, this episode offers reassurance that healing is possible, that joy can return, and that God remains faithful even in the darkest seasons.

GET THE BOOK! Cradled in Hope is sold on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, Christianbook, and Baker Bookhouse.
[www.bridgetscradles.com/book]

EPISODE SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT:
[www.bridgetscradles.com/post/episode64]

• CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:
Sign up here to receive email updates and hope-filled resources
[www.bridgetscradles.com/podcast]

• CRADLED IN HOPE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR GRIEVING MOMS:
[www.facebook.com/groups/cradledinhope]

• FOLLOW BRIDGET'S CRADLES
[www.facebook.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.instagram.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.pinterest.com/bridgetscradles]

• CONNECT WITH THE HOST | ASHLEY OPLIGER
[www.ashleyopliger.com]
[www.facebook.com/ashleyopliger]
[www.instagram.com/ashleyopliger]

#cradledinhope #cradledinhopepodcast #bridgetscradles

In this profoundly powerful episode, Ashley welcomes national bestselling author and Midnight Mom Devotional founder Becky Thompson back to the podcast to talk about her newest book, Healing Rest. Together, they share an unforgettable conversation about rest for the weary, peace for the anxious, and the healing presence of Jesus for grieving hearts.

What begins as an interview soon becomes a Spirit-led encounter with God’s tender presence. Becky invites listeners into the “closet” of vulnerability and surrender—the safe place where we meet Jesus, fall apart in His arms, and find the rest our souls are desperately craving. Through stories, Scripture, prayer, and Holy Spirit-led moments of pause, this episode offers more than just words—it offers sacred space to be held by the One who knows your pain and never leaves your side.

Whether you are overwhelmed by grief, carrying the weight of trauma, or longing for peace in the midst of chaos, this episode is a gentle invitation to experience healing rest in the arms of Jesus.

In this episode, we discussed:

• Becky's inspiration for writing Healing Rest and how it builds upon her previous book Peace
  
  
• Why grief reveals the world isn’t safe—and how we can still rest in the safety of Jesus’ presence

• The “closet moment”: where we break down, cry, surrender, and are tenderly met by the Comforter

• The difference between pushing through and truly surrendering what we carry

• What it means to be safely held, even in a broken world

• A Spirit-led, guided invitation to closet time with Jesus—including a real-time prayer experience

• Practical steps for slowing down, calming a dysregulated nervous system, and finding rest for your body, mind, and soul

• The importance of reading God’s Word as a place to encounter His presence, not just gain knowledge

• Healing from trauma and grief by asking Jesus where He was in your story

• The eternal perspective: what it means to be held by the same arms that cradle your baby in Heaven

This is not just an episode to listen to—it’s one to experience. A holy moment to sit still, breathe deep, and let Jesus meet you right where you are. If your heart is heavy, come and find rest. If your soul is weary, let Him hold you. You are safely held. You are deeply loved. And you are cradled in hope.

GET THE BOOK! Cradled in Hope is sold on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, Christianbook, and Baker Bookhouse.
[www.bridgetscradles.com/book]

EPISODE SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT:
[www.bridgetscradles.com/post/episode63]

• CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:
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