Hope Mommies Publication Release: Bright Hope, by Erin Cushman
“Bright Hope,” by Erin Cushman will be released soon! We celebrate what God has done in faithfulness through Erin’s writing and through those who have supported this publication in other ways. We want to give you an opportunity to hear from Erin today about how this book came to be, and
Here is our interview Erin:
1. For those just “tuning in,” what is Bright Hope, and how did it come to be published?
Bright Hope is a 28 Day Devotional for Grief in Light of the Gospel. Hope Mommies is coming up on their 10th year of ministry, and Jennie Parks (Executive Director of Hope Mommies) had asked if I would consider a new writing project to commemorate Hope Mommies’ ten years of faithful ministry to the infant loss community. We are doing an early release for a Giving Tuesday fundraiser on December 1, and then it will be available on Amazon for purchase on January 1, 2021
2. What first prompted in you a desire to write this devotional?
Losing our daughter Gwendolyn 36 hours after her birth. There were so few hope-filled Christian resources for infant loss 10 years ago when I left the hospital empty-handed and shattered. I knew the Lord would be faithful to walk with me through the grief, but I didn’t know where to start. “What do I do? What do I read? What do I do with my questions? How can I process this? Can I survive this? Can my marriage? Will I ever be happy again? Is God still good? Can I still trust Him? How do I engage with a God who just broke me so thoroughly?” Those were questions for which I needed space to process, yet grief is so overwhelming, and it is such work. I needed small soundbytes of biblical truth to get me through the minute (the hour, the day). I needed something to ground me in God’s Word without drowning me. I needed direction on how to apply the truth to each specific moment. I needed a devotional like Bright Hope.
Bright Hope is intentionally short. It is intentionally crafted to walk through grief one day at a time, leading us through a progression of Coming to the Lord, Beholding Him, Finding His truth that secures us, and Walking out our grief with Him by our side.
3. Can you describe the significance of the title you chose for the book?
I have loved discovering the depths of riches that we who follow Jesus have in the examples of other believers. What grieves us is not “uncommon to man.” Since Adam and Eve brought sin into the world, all we know is brokenness. Those who have journeyed through life trusting and following the Lord, come what may, have so much to teach us as we face difficulty and grief. That’s why I incorporated hymns throughout the book for study and meditation. The title Bright Hope is from the hymn, “Great is Thy Faithfulness” by Thomas Chisolm, written in 1923. The song exhorts us to see the faithfulness of God—because He is who He is, unchanging and perfect, sustaining all creation at every moment—He will sustain us too. “Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.” That is what every grieving heart needs.
4. Is there an aspect of this devotional that is most significant to you personally? If so, why?
Writing has always been cathartic for me. As the book began to take shape, it was sweet to discover yet again that one does not “move past” any particular phase in grief. The phases come and go, the waves rush and recede, but the gems of truth that secure and strengthen become richer and deeper, and traverse any trial. Charles Spurgeon (another saint to learn from) wrote, “I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.” Writing Bright Hope was an exercise in reflection. Over ten years have passed since I kissed my Gwendolyn goodbye, and repeatedly throughout those ten years the same truths have held me fast: God’s character. His compassion. His strength. His sovereignty. His Spirit walking with me. Those truths carried me through grief; they can carry me now through my adjustment to a new phase in our home and family. Those gems are what undergird my joy when life flows well, and anchor me when I’m battered and bruised.
5. What topics do you cover in Bright Hope?
Bright Hope has 28 days of devotions, broken into four themes. Each theme has five days of devotions, a hymn to study, and a reflection day as you wrap up the week. We talk about what it means to come to the Lord in week one. Week two is about seeing and beholding the Lord, and how that shapes us. Week three is what we find when we seek the Lord. Week four is about walking out our faith as we struggle.
6. What did you learn while writing this study?
Researching the hymns I had included was really enjoyable. And actually having to narrow it down to just four was trying. There are so many good hymns (and songs in general) that lift our hearts and souls. That’s why we made our music playlists for readers to enjoy! I have loved listening and sharing those playlists, and also asking dozens of people with various music preferences to tell me what music they love that would encourage someone that I could include on the playlists.
7. If you had to sum it up, what do you want people to take away from reading this devotional?
I hope they take away a greater confidence in the loving sovereignty of our God to see them through whatever He allows to come their way.
8. Do you have any other comments you would like to make, as we announce the release of this devotional?
I pray it is a blessing to you. And I hope that you’ll read it, share it, and write a review for us on Amazon so that more people will know that God indeed gives “strength for today, bright hope for tomorrow.”
- Erin
Hope Mom to Gwendolyn and Baby Cush
Erin Cushman is the founder of Hope Mommies. She is married to Blair and has four children: Gwendolyn, who has been with Jesus since October 20, 2010, Malacai, who is three, Gemma, born in June 2015, and Baby Cush. She loves photography, gardening, cooking, reading, playing with her children, and especially loves when all those things combine.
Are you a writer who would like to join the blog team? Learn more and apply here.
