Now Available
Finding Rest in the Waves of Child Loss and the Practical Arks that Carry Us Through
by Matthew Efird
In 2019, Matthew and Hannah Efird received a terminal prenatal diagnosis for their son, Noah Clifton. They chose to carry him to term, welcoming him into a world he would only touch for a few hours. This book is the unfiltered story of what happened next.
Even Though, We Will is structured in three parts: a raw chronological journal of Matthew’s experience (The Waves), a theological reckoning with the hardest questions of faith (The Foundational Ground), and a practical guide for those walking alongside grieving families (The Community Manual). Each chapter closes with a tangible survival tool called an Ark.
This is not a book about having the right answers. It is a book about choosing to walk forward anyway, and it was written for the grieving parent, the pastor at a loss for words, the friend who does not know what to bring, and anyone who has ever wondered if God is still good when life is not.
“Matthew Efird is not writing from a distance. He is writing from the middle of it. And what he has built inside these pages is something rare: a book that is genuinely FOR the person who is hurting. When loss hits, one of the most paralyzing questions is simply, what do I do next? Matthew answers that question with honesty, with hope, and with a road map that only someone who has actually walked this road could give you.”
Jeff Henderson, Bestselling Author of Know What You’re FOR and What to Do Next; Executive Director of Leadership Innovation and Strategies, Chick-fil-A
“I was there for Noah’s story. I watched Matthew and Hannah navigate those 57.5 hours with a grace and a faith that I have never forgotten. What Matthew has written in Even Though, We Will is not theory. It is a lived truth, put into words that will serve grieving families and the medical professionals who care for them for years to come. I recommend this book without reservation.”
Dr. Atul Khurana, M.D., Medical Director, Level III NICU, Piedmont Athens Regional; Board Certified Neonatologist, over 35 years of practice
“What strikes me most is the intentional, practical framework Matthew builds around the gospel. The ‘arks’ he describes are not inspirational ideas. They are life-on-life tools that a church community can wrap around a grieving family. Every pastor, elder, small group leader, and disciple-maker needs this resource. Matthew and his family have not wasted their suffering. They have let God spend it for the glory of His kingdom, and we are all better for it.”
Randy Pope, Founding Pastor, Perimeter Church; President, Life on Life Ministries; Author of Insourcing
“Even Though, We Will does what the best books on suffering must do: it does not explain away the pain, it reframes it within the purposes of a sovereign and loving God. Matthew shows us that God does not waste our deepest losses. He uses them to shape us, conform us, and ultimately carry us. This book will transform hearts, renew minds, and equip the Church to walk alongside those in the darkest of valleys.”
Dr. Ken Boa, President, Reflections Ministries; Author of Conformed to His Image, Shaped by Suffering, and Rewriting Your Broken Story
“Most books about grief tell you what to feel. This one meets you where you already are and gives you something to grab on to. Matthew Efird’s honesty about losing Noah is breathtaking, and the Arks he offers are not theory — they are lifelines forged in real suffering. I wish every pastor, every NICU nurse, and every grieving parent had a copy of this book within arm’s reach.”
Clay Scroggins, Bestselling Author of How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge
“I’ve been around tough people my entire life, but the strength Matthew and Hannah showed through the loss of their son Noah is a different kind of toughness. This book doesn’t flinch from the hardest parts of grief, and it doesn’t leave you there either. Whether you’re the one grieving or the one trying to help, Even Though, We Will is a resource you’ll come back to again and again.”
Ovie Mughelli, NFL Pro Bowl Fullback, Atlanta Falcons
“Shards of truth from Even Though, We Will resonate in your soul and echo sacred balm for your tattered heart long after you finish turning the pages. This book is a must for those struggling with heart-loss of all kinds — those desperately seeking help, hope, and healing. I highly recommend this book.”
Debora M. Coty, Bestselling Author, over 2 million copies sold across 50 inspirational books
Book Sales Fund the Mission
Every copy sold helps fund Noah’s Arks — care packages sent to families facing terminal prenatal diagnoses through the Even Though, We Will Foundation.
Learn About the Foundation