Abby McDonald

Finding the Hope of Christ in a Messy Life

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3 Truths to Remember in Seasons of Waiting

September 1, 2023 by Abby McDonald

In seasons of waiting, our thought life tends to go between two extremes. We either feel helpless or empowered. Frustrated or purposeful.
 
I don’t believe I’m alone when I say I often camp in the former mindset. I wonder where God is. Often, I come to him with an anxious heart, waiting to hear from him with clear guidance or direction, but instead I hear nothing.

When I did a Google search of all the scriptural references to waiting, not one of them refers to waiting as a helpless time.

Not one. Instead, waiting is referred to as a source of strength and blessing. It’s a time when followers look to God with eager expectation of what he’ll do. (Romans 8:19, Psalm 27:13-14, Micah 7:7) As I read each of these hopeful descriptions, I asked myself, “When was the last time I waited with eager expectation?”
 
Much of the time, I’m wondering where God is. I wonder if I heard him wrong and sometimes question whether or not he cares about the circumstances our family is facing. Perhaps you’ve been there too?
 
Most of us see the wait as a stuck place. We want to move forward, but feel like our feet are burrowed down in wet sand. If we’re unsure of our direction, how do we put one foot in front of the other?
 
If we want to become unstuck, we must start with our thinking. Why? Because our thoughts become words and our words become actions. In short, they determine the trajectory of our entire lives. So if we think God has abandoned us, our lives will reflect that belief.

Recently, I took a deep dive into the lives of men and women of the Bible who endured long seasons of waiting. 

If we looked at their circumstances alone, they had every reason to give up hope and abandon the promises of God. But they kept going. They persevered in the face of all odds, deterrents, and obstacles.

Noah spent over one hundred years building an ark and then waited for three hundred and eighty-seven days with his family for the flood waters to clear.

Joseph waited years for God to deliver him from the hands of his oppressors, and spent years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.

Jochebed waited while her son, Moses, was raised by Pharoah’s daughter. Her sacrificial love led to God using him to deliver the nation of Israel from slavery.
 
As I studied these men and women, I felt God asking me an honest, heart level question: Were is your hope? Then, he got even more specific. Is your hope in an answered prayer? Is it in reaching a specific goal or accolade or in receiving healing from an affliction?
 
God wants to give us the desires of our hearts. Like a mother or father who is filled with joy when they see their child’s eyes light up, he delights in seeing us prosper. But do you know what he wants even more? He wants for us to delight in him.

“Delight yourselves in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:4 NIV

I often overlook the first part of this verse. I want what I want. And I want it now. Perhaps you’re there too? But despite my often toddler-like attitude, every lasting joy in my life comes from aligning my heart and my desires with his. It comes from seeking him first, and then presenting my requests to him.
 
So friend, where is your hope?
 
As you think about this question, I want to offer a three truths to remember in seasons of waiting:
 

  • The object of our wait is a point on our journey, not a destination. Whether we receive what we’re asking for or not, we will still be living lives filled with ups and downs, valleys and roadblocks.
  • By fixating on what we don’t yet have, we miss the gifts right in front of us. This is the enemy’s oldest trick in the book. He deceived Eve into thinking she lacked something when their situation was perfect in every way. (Genesis 3:1)
  • Waiting is a time where we must shift our focus from the object of our wait to the work and soul alignment we can do right here, right now. God has placed us where we are for a specific purpose, which can be fulfilled whether we’re waiting for something or not.

Waiting is not a time when we sit and look for God to show up. He’s already here. His work doesn’t stop simply because we can’t see it.

Let’s spend time in prayer today asking him what he has for us to do today. He has placed us in a specific time and place to make an impact on the world around us. Sometimes the impact may seem small, but do you know what’s amazing? When we are obedient with the small things, the ripple effect is big.

Prayer:
God, thank you that you are a Father who sees us even when we don’t see you. Thank you for going behind us and before us, and placing your hand of blessing on our heads.

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:

“Abby McDonald’s heart for her readers shows through in every word. Genuine and gentle, she leads us to a place where we can shift our lenses to see God’s presence in all the moments: good, bad, and—especially—in between. Because as much as we like to focus on the highs and lows, God longs to meet us in the middle. Shift’s practical approach will help you see Him there.” -Kelly S.

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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If You’re Questioning Whether It’s God’s Voice

July 31, 2023 by Abby McDonald

Whenever I face uncertainty, it happens. I look for clues of what God is trying to tell me. As if God is tossing me breadcrumbs, leading me down the path to some obscure puzzle. Maybe it’s because anxiety makes it hard for me to focus. Or perhaps it’s just human nature. In my longing for certainty, this search for clues gives the illusion of control. But the more I walk with Jesus and learn to recognize his voice, the more I realize he’s not the type of God who throws us breadcrumbs. Continue Reading

4 Ways We’re Often Wrong About How the Enemy Works

June 30, 2023 by Abby McDonald

Several weeks ago, I had a conversation with a friend who was going through an extremely difficult season. On top a crisis in her family life, she also faced stresses in her ministry. The timing of it could not have been worse. Each area of her life that mattered to her was filled with chaos of some sort. But what stuck me most about the conversation is that when the problems began mounting one of top of the other, she immediately recognized it as an attack from the enemy. This person had 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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Happy National Coffee Day! Do you drink it? If so, Happy National Coffee Day! Do you drink it? If so, how do you take yours?

#coffeelovers #nationalcoffeeday #givemecoffee
When we put our words out into the world, there is When we put our words out into the world, there is always a risk. It can be easy to get stuck in our heads and keep the message God gave us hidden. But the blessing is worth it. The gift is worth it.

Here are 3 practices that help me when I get stuck, and help me move forward:

1. Imagine sitting with your reader and having coffee. I find this practice especially helpful for non-fiction. Remember, your reader is a person. What is she struggling with? What does she need to know?

2. Be willing to laugh at yourself. Stop taking yourself so seriously! Often, this where I get hung up, but I’m learning that if I’m stressed and not enjoying the process, it will be evident in the writing itself.

3. Filter out the voices and negativity. It’s amazing how much more clearly we can recognize God’s promoting when we aren’t bombarded with noise.

What are some tips that help you get out of your head and write? Share them below!

#amwriting #writeyourstory #writingcoach #writingtips
Nothing like getting your cast off and celebrating Nothing like getting your cast off and celebrating with a heart of fried rice. 💗

#mothersofdaughters #surprisedbymotherhood #girlmom
Even on the days when you think you’ve run out o Even on the days when you think you’ve run out of faith and out of hope, God is fighting for you. He is fighting for your faith. I know, that statement seems almost counterintuitive, right? But the more I walk this journey with Him, the more I know it.

When we don’t have the words, His Spirit groans for us and articulates what we can’t.

When all we see is fog, He is guiding us to the place where we’ll see clearly.

As my pastor reminded me this week: Somebody’s praying for you. And on the days when you feel like your prayers aren’t even making it to the ceiling, He takes our offering and makes something stunningly beautiful. That’s how much He loves.

#faithwriter #seekhimfirst #encouragingwomen #keepgoing
When we plant seeds in the hearts and lives of oth When we plant seeds in the hearts and lives of others, it’s not our job to micromanage them. This is often difficult for me to understand, but God is the ultimate Gardner. 

He grows good things, even when we can’t see them. And at the right time, that seed you planted will burst forth from the soil into the sunlight.

#hehasgoodplans #growthmindset #faithwriter #iknowhim
I mean, it’s a worthy effort, right? 😂 #size I mean, it’s a worthy effort, right? 😂

#sizematters #onecupatatime #coffeelover
This quote from @lisawhittle in her new book, God This quote from @lisawhittle in her new book, God Knows, stopped me in my tracks this week. I can’t count the number of times I’ve subscribed to the idea that God is some sort of doorman in the sky, opening and closing doors leading either to my heart’s desire or sometimes, disappointment. I’ve prayed well meaning prayers about the opening and closing of these doors, and I know because we serve a merciful, loving God, he’s answered them.

But here’s the thing. Sometimes God lets us go down a path contrary to his will. Because he created us as human beings and not robots, he wants us to exercise one of the most faith building gifts he gives us: the ability to make decisions.

More than being a doorman, what God desires is for us to abide in him. This is a day-by-day, moment to moment decision. Lord knows I don’t do this perfectly but but as I seek him more than I seek the answer or the open door, he shapes me. He shapes me into someone who has peace in the yeses, the disappointments, and everything in between. 

#heknows #seekhimfirst #bookquotes
Have you ever tried to hold onto something that wa Have you ever tried to hold onto something that was no longer healthy? Perhaps it was a habit that you knew wasn’t good for you. Maybe it was a job you signed up for, but it began depleting you emotionally and physically. It could even be a toxic relationship where you knew you needed to set a boundary, but you hesitated.

I don’t know about you, but I have a hard time letting go. The loyalist in me tells me to hang on until my tank in bone dry, and I literally have nothing left to give. But God us showing me not only is this spiritually unhealthy, it can also keep me from pursuing the plans HE has for me.

About a year ago, my husband stopped eating wheat. He didn’t do this because he wanted to, but because his body began rejecting it. After weeks of painful, itchy allergic reactions, he decided to eliminate things gradually, one by one. It didn’t take long to find gluten was the culprit.

It got me thinking about my day-to-day life. What if I had the same intentionality with the things I consume, and are part of my daily life? I don’t mean being unavailable, but being more available to what God has for me.

Here’s some questions I developed to help me live more intentionally:

1. How does this align with my purpose?
2. Does it deplete me emotionally and physically?
3. Does it cause me constant anxiety?
4. Have I asked God for His guidance in this? What leading did I receive?

Friends, 1 Corinthians 6:19 tells us our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. This includes our entire being- heart, soul and mind. Let’s be vigilant in our care of them.

#faithwriter #seekhimfirst #decisions #hisgrace
I added this simple prayer to my morning routine a I added this simple prayer to my morning routine about a year ago. Today, I’m amazed at how many beautiful, everyday moment God awakened my heart to. 

At the time, I was going through a season where I’d lost my wonder. And while I still struggle, He’s been faithful to meet me right in the middle of my days when I seek him. Thank you, God.
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The 5 Days to Life Unstuck Challenge

Are there areas of your life where you can’t seem to find breakthrough? Do you feel as though your keep praying the same prayers over and over, but you’re not getting anywhere?

A life stuck is one that never moves into the fullness Christ created us to have.

This is why I created the “5 Days to Life Unstuck Challenge”. In this 5-day challenge, we will look at five key areas where the enemy likes for us to stay stuck. Then, we will implement a simple, doable mindset shift.

Ready to get get unstuck?

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!