Abby McDonald

Finding the Hope of Christ in a Messy Life

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When Fear Masks Itself as Discernment

March 10, 2023 by Abby McDonald 4 Comments

The meme popped up in my social media feed and I paused, considering it. It claimed a worship band I sometimes enjoy was part of Satan’s scheme to deceive the church. I thought about the lyrics of some of the popular songs they played on the radio. Most of them contained references to scripture or words from verses. Was I being misled? Should I stop listening to this music altogether?

Several days later, I had a conversation with another believer about physical and spiritual healing. She and her husband were looking for a location for their new church plant and thought they had found a place. However, after conversing with management, they realized that the laying of hands and healing would not be allowed if they leased from this location. Although the reason was unclear, the fear was obvious.

Both situations made me wonder how often we think we’re led by discernment, when it’s actually fear leading us. In the Bible, Paul tells us discernment is a spiritual gift and it is valuable those who exercise it. It keeps the church from falling prey to false doctrine or false prophets, and alerts us when God’s word is being taken out of context. But what about the times when instead of discernment, we’re led by our own biases, discomfort and fear?

The fact that something makes us uncomfortable doesn’t make it untrue. In fact, the Holy Spirit does some of his best work when we’re uncomfortable. When we leave behind what’s familiar and walk with him into the unknown. This is what faith is.

But times will come when the Spirit is leading us and tells us to run. So how do we know the difference? Are there ways to tell whether we’re being led by fear or discernment? I believe there are, if we slow our racing minds enough to pay attention. Here are three ways to tell whether we’re being led by fear or discernment:

1. Fear is often propelled by a lack of understanding, but discernment is an understanding that comes from the Spirit.

When we don’t understand something, one of our natural reactions is to flee. We gravitate toward things that make us feel safe and comfortable. But friends, the Holy Spirit cannot be confined by our comfort zone.

If we look at scripture, the religious group who had the least understanding of who Jesus was tried to keep everyone from following him. They were the Pharisees, and they were led not by true discernment that comes from God, but by their own fear. They feared Jesus was going to take power away from them and expose the hollow doctrine they preached. Nearly every interaction they had with Jesus was to manipulate him or trick him into doing something that contradicted scripture.

Matthew tells of one of the many instances where the Pharisees and Sadducees ask Jesus for a sign from heaven, but Jesus sees their true intent:

“But He replied to them, ‘When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but are you unable to discern the signs of the times?” Matthew 16:2-3 NASB

Jesus knew that whether they saw a sign or not, they would not believe. Their hearts were not led by a desire for freedom, but by fear and deceit.

When we’re uncertain whether someone’s message is of God, we can learn from Jesus’ interaction with the Pharisees. We can come to God with a desire for wisdom and understanding. If we ask him for it and truly desire it, he will lead us.

2. True discernment comes from God alone, not our opinions or prejudices.

What we call discernment can actually be our own flawed human judgment. Judgment that is fueled by our biases and prejudices, and has nothing to do with the holy life God desires for each of us. I know this because I am guilty of using my own bias as an excuse to judge others who did not worship the way I did, pray the way I did, or study God’s Word the way I did. And thank God, he convicted me of this sin so I could repent of it and turn from it.

One of the beautiful things about God’s church is its diversity. It is filled with people from all over the world who can celebrate his goodness and mercy in their own unique way. Sometimes, others’ worship will look different from ours and may even make us a little uncomfortable, and that is okay. Let’s not let our fear of what is unfamiliar keep us from embracing God’s people like the family they are.

John talks about the beauty of the church’s diversity in Revelation, saying:

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”

Revelation 7:9-10 NIV

3. Fear produces self-reliance, but discernment comes from reliance on God’s wisdom.

If we look at references to discernment in scripture, we see recognition that it comes from God alone. No amount of speculation or reliance on our own knowledge will produce spiritual discernment. In Psalm 119, we see the writer precede his request for discernment with humility:

“I am your servant; give me discernment
    that I may understand your statutes.”

Psalm 119:125 NIV

The writer recognizes that a humble attitude and posture before the Lord is needed. Fear, on the other hand, is often the result of us trying to produce righteousness from our own works, which will get us nowhere. It is the product of comparing our spiritual life to someone else’s and trying to elevate ourselves above them. But wisdom that comes from God teaches us we are all sinners in need of grace, and God gives it freely to those who confess their need for it.

When we are truly uncertain whether a message we hear is from God, he is more than willing to give us guidance.

All we have to do is ask him. He does not show favoritism, and gives wisdom freely. (James 1:5) But often, instead of coming to God, we let our past hurt guide us. Or we listen to others or listen to our voice of inner judgment, and miss out on what could be a beautiful opportunity to experience God’s healing.

How often do we miss the freedom of God’s healing and power because we’re too busy feeding our suspicions? Friends, the demons know the difference between the truth and a lie. Just look at the false priests in Acts who tried to invoke the name of Jesus, but did not follow him. Their attempts to heal were in vain.

One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” Acts 19:15 NIV

We see no indication that God punished those who came to be healed. He knows our hearts and what motivates us. Instead, he used the situation to draw people to the true Healer.

Let’s not miss out on an opportunity to experience the miraculous because we’re feeding our fear instead of feeding our faith. Instead, let’s come into his presence with a humble heart that is open to be guided by his Spirit. It is in those moments that he’s able to do the unexpected. He loves to surprise us with his goodness, but it is the heart willing to receive that’s able to see it.

*This article originally appeared at iBelieve.com.

An Invitation:

If we want to see God in the midst of our struggles, we have to change the way we look for him. My book, Shift: Changing Our Focus to See the Presence of God, is filled with practical tools and insights to help you do so. 

Here’s what one reader said after reading it:

“This book changed my life! It changed my perspective on God and God’s will for my life. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to understand God and His plans.” -Christi

You can pick up a copy of Shift by clicking the image below.

*This post contains affiliate links. You can read my affiliate link disclosure here.

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Is There a Way to Know God is Speaking to You?

February 2, 2023 by Abby McDonald

Over the past six months, I’ve been thinking a lot about the ways God speaks to us. My own struggle to discern his voice and conversations with other women caused me to ask the questions, “How do you know God is speaking to you? Is there a way to know for certain?” As I continue to dig into scripture on this topic and pray, God reveals each day that yes, He speaks to us and yes, we can move forward in the peace of knowing a Word was from Him. If you stick around with me, we’ll explore this Continue Reading

If You Feel Like You’re Drowning in Expectations This Christmas Season

December 21, 2022 by Abby McDonald

I looked up at night sky and saw the stars dancing among the trees. I blinked once, thinking my eyes were playing tricks on me, but the view was the same. “Look!” I said to my husband. “The stars, they’re moving.” “Yep. Those are winter fireflies,” he said. Even in the darkness, I could see his smirk. Immediately, I realized what these dancing stars were. The laser Christmas light display from the front yard was projecting over the house, into the trees and sky. Its beam added an other Continue Reading

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Hi! I'm Abby and I'm so glad you're here. I am a wife and a mom of two very energetic boys and one sweet baby girl. When I'm not chasing them around I love to write about my love for a God who relentlessly pursued me, even during my darkest times. READ MORE...

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I pray that when I’m 90, I still have the fire b I pray that when I’m 90, I still have the fire burning in my soul that this woman has. What a joy it was to hear Katherine Paterson speak at the HopeWords conference, along with so many other inspiring speakers.

One of my favorite quotes from her talk:

“If a book has any power, then it has the power to offend.”

Oof. I will be chewing on that one for a while.

#hopewords #hopewords2023 #keepwriting
I’m so glad we got the chance to hit the snow tu I’m so glad we got the chance to hit the snow tubing slope before the season ended. It’s often those things that make me feel like a kid again that refresh my spirit the most. 

What’s something you did that refreshed your spirit lately?

#herestoresmysoul #snowtubing #wispresort
Can I share a secret with you? If I waited until I Can I share a secret with you? If I waited until I was inspired every time I showed up to write, I’d get very little writing done. Writing is sort of like working out. I don’t work out because I find it fun or because I’m super motivated. I work out because of how it makes me feel afterward.

Here are a couple of misconceptions about Spirit-led, inspired writing:

1. The Spirit is not limited to spontaneity. Yes, He is referred to as fire and wind. In Acts, we’re told He will give us the words at the moment we need them. This is in reference to testifying.

But the Spirit also moves in our preparation. He moves when we sit down at the computer and make the commitment to write, even when we don’t think the words are good enough. 

2. We don’t have to wait to be inspired to write. The discipline of showing up will invoke inspiration too.

Sometimes writing is like pushing the spokes of a rusty, old wheel. It takes some work and elbow grease to get it moving. But once it moves, the turning gets easier. The same is true for writing. As we put words down, the flow gets easier. The inspiration often shows up in unexpected places.

What would you add to this list? 

#amwriting #writingcommunity #writingcoach #writersofinstagram
Sometimes God allows the death or delay of a dream Sometimes God allows the death or delay of a dream to shift our focus toward him. It’s painful. It can make us question whether we heard God when we took an initial step of faith. But in the process of delaying our dream, God will also transform us if we let him. His word promises he will give us a new heart and spirit. (Ezekiel 36:26)

A few months before my first writer’s conference, a reader made a profound comment on my blog post, and I’ve remembered it to this day: God’s promises go further than our dreams. It took the death of a dream for me to believe it, though. 

I now know it to be true, and have lived it firsthand. Here are 3 reasons his promises go further than our dreams ➡️

💫1. God sees the transformation needed for our dream to flourish.

He sees not only the person we are now, but the person we’re becoming. Through our obedience and trust in him, even when we don’t see the end result, he will refine us and prepare us for what’s to come.

💫2. God’s plans and promises are not short-term. They are eternal. 

If we look at Hebrews 11, we see a list of men and women whose faith still inspires us today. But these people didn’t see the fulfillment of God’s promise in their lifetime. It would be easy for them to think God let them down, but that wasn’t the case. God wasn’t withholding his best. He was preparing perfection.

💫3. God sees not just our dream, but the people who are a part of it.

If we look at the promises God makes in scripture, it is never just about one person. It is about generations. It is about nations and those who will follow in their footsteps. If we think our dream is only about us, God will work out this mindset before he fulfills the vision we have in our heart.

God’s purpose is never to dangle a carrot in front of our face and send us on a wild chase for something he will never give us. This isn’t his heart at all. He sees our desires and the lives of those who need our vision.

If God placed a dream in your heart and you are in a period of waiting, keep seeking his purpose. He hasn’t forgotten you.

#hisgrace #seekhimfirst #keepgoing
St. Patrick’s Day is particularly lucky for me, St. Patrick’s Day is particularly lucky for me, because it’s the day this man and I went on our first date nineteen years ago. Although I really don’t think luck had anything to do with it. 🍀😉

Our dogs led us together. It’s a story only God could write with his grace, humor and whimsy. And for that reason among others, I will forever be a dog person. 🐶

Has this particular day ever left you in awe of God’s grace? How so?

#saintpatricksday #hopewriters #hisgrace #1000gifts #gracegift
Do you lack clarity on what your next step is as a Do you lack clarity on what your next step is as a writer? I can help! With all the information thrown at us online, it can be difficult to determine what’s best for YOU. Your journey is unique, so you can’t simply copy and paste what someone else did.

As a writing coach, I help you:

👉🏼 Uncover what drives you and propels you to take action. Because if we don’t know what drives us, we remain stagnant.
👉🏼 Eliminate habits and mindsets that keep you stuck.
👉🏼 Develop doable steps to help you make progress toward your writing goals.

What do you need clarity on?

➡️ Book a free consultation via the link in my bio or send me a DM to get started.

#writingcommunity #writingcoach #amwriting #writersofinstagram
This picture is from January, but it could have be This picture is from January, but it could have been this week. While my calendar says spring starts next week, but winter is still hanging on for dear life. To be honest, I’m over it. Our winter has been mild, but my vitamin D meter is low. All the supplements in the world can’t make up for a warm day with the sun on my face.

If you’re in a long winter season, whether spiritual or physical, let me offer some encouragement God gave me recently: God can do a new thing in the middle of your winter. 

He doesn’t need a specific season or certain elements to birth new creation. His Spirit moves in the midst of our sorrows, disappointments, and things that seem dead.

When Isaiah prophesied to a nation who had gone their own way, he didn’t tell them God would make a way in the middle of a lush landscape or field of wildflowers. His new birth took place in a wasteland. There was no life. No hint of spring.

“See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland.”

Isaiah 43:19 NIV

Friend, the robins flocked to our yard today in the middle of a wind storm and snow flurries. They taste the coming life. As they flock around our yard, they reminded me how God works beneath the surface. He works in the cold, hard ground and under frozen landscape. May they remind you of the same promise today.

#nofilter #morningmercies #winter2023 #springiscoming
My daughter woke me up at 5:00 am on Sunday. So it My daughter woke me up at 5:00 am on Sunday. So it felt like 4:00 am. When my alarm went off a couple of hours later, I wondered what the heck was happening. 

If you’re struggling like I am on this Monday, give yourself grace. Grab that extra coffee if you need it. We’ll get through this.

#daylightsavings #momsofinstagram #mothersofdaughters
My focus can be pretty narrow at times. You too? 🙋🏻‍♀️ I’m so glad God sees the intricate details and the bigger story. When I let him lead, beautiful things happen.

#encouragingquotes #keepgoing #hisgrace
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