Abby McDonald

Finding the Hope of Christ in a Messy Life

  • Home
  • About
  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Coaching & Resources
  • Blog
  • Contact

The Promise on the Other Side of Loneliness

February 22, 2018 by Abby McDonald

We drove across the overpass and I looked down at our future home, thinking, “Oh God, what have I done?”

My husband and I were moving to this small mountain town in a few months, but this was my first time seeing it. It was a cold, rainy day and heavy fog hung over us like a blanket.

I looked out the window and I thought about the friends we were leaving and the church where we thrived. Were we crazy? How did we decide it was a good idea to pick up our family and move cross-country for the second time in five years?

And yet, in late January during one of the coldest winters on record, that is exactly what we did.

After living with my in-laws several months while looking for a house, we finally found a place to raise our growing family. Our second son was on the way, and I was eager get active in the community. But the more we tried to find a church family and make friends, the more elusive our desires became.

I wondered if we heard God wrong. Although we prayed fervently before moving, I couldn’t help thinking we made a mistake. What I didn’t realize was that even in the midst of my grief, God moved.

God can use some of our loneliest seasons to draw us closer to Him.

During those months when I grieved the life we lost, God drew me to his side and comforted me like no friend I’d ever known. He gave me an understanding of his Word that can only be gained by living it.

I remember coming across these verses during those first few months in our new town.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

James 1:2-3 NIV

I used to read these verses and think, “Really? That sounds nice in theory, but is it even possible?”

But the move changed me. James’ words came alive in a way I never expected.

After spending some lonely months in the recliner nursing my newborn, I saw that James wasn’t delivering a clichéd platitude. He was speaking truth.

Even thought wasn’t happy about my situation, I realized joy sits deeper than feelings that come and go.

It’s soul knowledge that we cling to an eternal hope beyond our temporary circumstances.

As God worked on my heart, he prepared a place we would call our church home. He brought friends who ministered to me in my sadness.

When a new spring dawned outside our window, I knew our winter of isolation was over. And I thanked God for the strengthened faith he gave me during the cold.

 

Share if you care!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Print

Filed Under: change, faith Tagged With: faith, loneliness

Let’s Stay Connected

Subscribe to receive my latest posts via email.
And as a thank you, I’ll send you a free PDF download of
"The Daughter’s Manifesto."

Privacy Policy

Comments

  1. Rebecca Jones says

    February 22, 2018 at 5:52 pm

    I never really realized that we grieved so for things that weren’t about death. Fear and grief as so close, I used to resist fear but I was suffering grief, prayer delivered me.

    • Abby McDonald says

      March 1, 2018 at 4:36 pm

      Great insight, Becky. They are indeed close neighbors. I haven’t thought of that. It’s always good to see you here. Thanks for sharing.

  2. Lisa Appelo says

    February 22, 2018 at 8:30 pm

    It’s amazing how God can use those isolating times to draw us so much closer to Him. I think partly because our world gets smaller and quieter and we need God so much for our companionship and guidance. Beautiful words today and I so identify with them!

    • Abby McDonald says

      March 1, 2018 at 4:35 pm

      Amen, Lisa. Those lonely times can indeed be a blessing, even though they are hard. Thanks so much for stopping by and for your words of encouragement. I’ve been thinking about you and your family often.

  3. Betsy de Cruz says

    February 24, 2018 at 1:22 am

    Oh Abby. This is such a beautiful piece. I am focusing on JOY the last few days. (After the hubs politely, gently said, “You seem uptight lately.” 🙂 ) I want to be joyful, not uptight! This was oerfect today.

    • Betsy de Cruz says

      February 24, 2018 at 1:23 am

      Perfect

    • Abby McDonald says

      March 1, 2018 at 4:35 pm

      I’ve heard that from my husband on a few occasions. 😉 I want to be full of his joy too. Praying we both hold onto the joy that goes beyond the temporary circumstances of our lives. Love and hugs to you, friend.

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...

Let’s Stay Connected

Subscribe to receive my latest posts via email. And as a thank you, I’ll send
you a free PDF download of "The Daughter’s Manifesto."

Privacy Policy

Stay Connected

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Popular Posts

How to Thwart the Subtle Attacks of the Enemy
How God Responds When His Own Want to Die
4 Truths to Hold Onto When You Think You've Let God Down
When You're Losing Hope in Your Season of Waiting

You Can Find Me Here

Take the Challenge

Categories

Recent Facebook Posts

Recent Facebook Posts

Recent Pins

Latest Instagram Feed

When information comes at you like a water hose, i When information comes at you like a water hose, it’s difficult to know what your next step is.

This is how the writing world often feels. Everyone has a different opinion about what you need to do next, how to get published and achieve your goals. And there are some amazing resources out there. Here’s the problem: They’re not personalized. No one knows your unique story but you, and the people you choose to share it with.

When I first started writing, I often felt overwhelmed by information. But over the years, I learned what works and what doesn’t. I learned how to stay authentic in a world where it can feel like everything’s already been said. I found my unique voice and discovered how to share it effectively. With time, experience, and my fair share of rejection, I landed a literary agent. Then, a traditional publishing contract.

I want to share what I learned with you.

If you’re a writer who wants to share your words but feels uncertain about your next step, I can help. Through coaching, we will help you identify what YOUR goals are, and how to help you achieve them. It all starts with finding your unique voice.

👉🏼 Want to see how I can help you? Book your free 30-minute discovery call via the link in my bio.

Here’s what one person said after working with me:

“Abby was insightful and intuitive. She spurred me to write consistently and reach out and look for other opportunities to be published. 10 out of 10!” -Toni

#writingcoach #writingcommunity #amwriting #publishinglife #keepgoing
For a long season of life, I hung my identity on t For a long season of life, I hung my identity on the different hats I wore: wife, mother, friend, woman of faith. But when I felt like I was failing at any of these roles, my world would become unstable. 

Over time, God showed me that knowing who I was started with knowing him in a more real, personal way. Not as a distant rule enforcer but as a friend who was there for me, especially when I felt the most vulnerable.

The more I learned about him, his love and unchanging character, the more I learned about my own identity. I saw that these different hats I wear are meant to enhance, but not define. 

Sweet relief comes when I let “daughter” become my tried and true name.

#hopewriters #amwriting #surprisedbymotherhood #encouragingwords #hisgrace
Sometimes inspiration comes in moments I don’t e Sometimes inspiration comes in moments I don’t expect. (swipe left) But as I read about the Wright brothers defeats and discouragements yesterday, a sense of awe and wonder filled me. Two years after Wilbur confessed to his brother that he didn’t think men would fly for fifty years, they made their first successful flight. After hundreds of failures, they did what hadn’t been done. 

When I see this type of tenacity, it makes my failures seem like stepping stones. It makes me want to keep trying, seeking and letting each experience propel me forward.

#wrightbrothers #obxvacation #kittyhawk #firstinflight
We made it to our spot for the week. 😎 #summer We made it to our spot for the week. 😎

#summervacation #obx
There is always more to the story. More than the p There is always more to the story. More than the portion we see in the square. More than what we see in the snippets of people’s lives they choose to share, whether in person or on a screen. 

Take this verse in Philippians 4, for example. Up until several years ago, I didn’t know these words preceded the famous, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Little did I know, Paul was never talking about the things we often slap this verse on top of. He was talking about something beyond this life- the secret to everything, really.

Context matters, both in reading scripture and in the way we view the lives of those around us. And while we may never know the whole story behind our friend’s IG post, we can remember there is one. We can strive to embrace the secret Paul discovered. But here’s the key: It start with the death of the things we often think matter the most. 

This truth may the be “IG worthy” or popular, but it can transform us from the inside out. It can make us stop reaching for a facade, and claim what’s already ours.

Can I get an amen?

#hopewriters #shiftyourmindset #scriptureoftheday #contextmatters
Welcome to the next edition of Writing on Wednesda Welcome to the next edition of Writing on Wednesdays! Today we’re going to talk the one question you should ask yourself before you begin writing. When I started writing non-fiction eight years ago, my writing was all over the place. I wrote about anything and everything that popped into my head, as many writers do when they begin.

The problem with this is that while we may think we’re writing to everyone, we actually end up writing to no one. So what do we do? How can we make sure those who need our message the most will find it?

Before I sit down to write a piece, I ask myself, “What is the one thing I want my reader to know when she leaves my site?”

Doing this helps narrow all the hundreds of ideas I have swimming around my head. It focuses my thinking. It also improves my writing.

Asking this question will also lead to other questions, which focus on who your reader is. Some of these questions may include:

👉🏼What is she (or he) struggling with today?
👉🏼Where is she going?
👉🏼What is the one question she is asking herself?
👉🏼What are the problems that keep her awake at night?
👉🏼What is her family life like? Does she have a husband and kids?

Knowing who your audience is and what types of questions they’re asking will take your writing to another level. And while I used to think narrowing my focus would limit my writing, it actually expands it. Because instead of having to write to everyone and about everything, I can focus on the message that is important to me.

Your reader will likely be a version of yourself. It may be a younger version of you or perhaps an older, wiser one, but she will share many of your personal traits. Because we write what we know. We write what we’ve experienced and care about, and what we hope to encourage others with so they know they’re not alone.

So the next time you sit down, imagine your reader is sitting cross the table from you and the two of you are having coffee or tea. Think about the things you would talk about. Think about the questions she might ask you or the burden she would lay down because she has no one else to talk to.

Then, write. Write like you’re writing to her.

#amwriting #authorsofinstagram
Do you ever feel like this guy? (He came up to the Do you ever feel like this guy? (He came up to the house to say hi today.) Like despite all your effort, hard work and tears you’re still moving at this pace? 

Lord knows, I have. But here’s what God is teaching me: Slow and steady progress is much more sustainable than overnight success. With each hour I devote to the next project or task He’s given me, He teaches me. He prepares me.

The slow growth does a deeper, more lasting work. My roots grow deeper and are able to withstand the harsh seasons.

If you feel like your work is in vain today, friend, take your weary heart to the One who sees you today. He walked the road with the least of these and the overlooked, and He’ll renew you with the grace you need for the journey.

#hopewriters #keepgoing #hisgraceissufficient #encouragingword #writersofinstagram
The first night of dance recital is in the books a The first night of dance recital is in the books and there were so many memorable moments, but this one is near the top for me: my girl’s first father daughter dance. Before one of the of the other dads there took the stage with his senior, he looked at Chris and said, “Don’t blink.” Goodness, I get it. With each passing day, I want to be more present.

Thankful to my sweet friend for capturing this picture.

#dancerecital #mothersofinstagram #dontblink #surprisedbymotherhood
WRITING ON WEDNESDAYS Did you know that Walt Dis WRITING ON WEDNESDAYS 

Did you know that Walt Disney was fired from the Kansas City newspaper because he “lacked imagination” and “didn’t have any new ideas?” Of course, we know this rejection wasn’t the end of his story. He went on to inspire us, capture our childlike pursuit of joy, and create characters we still enjoy today. But what if he’d given up? What if he’d let that moment define him?

Rejection can feel like the end of the story, but it isn’t. It’s simply a turning point. It’s an invitation to say, “What works? How does this moment give me the opportunity to grow?”

When you face a rejection in writing, here are 3 things you can do:

1. Pitch it somewhere else. A rejection at one publisher or site doesn’t mean it will be a no somewhere else.
2. Tweak and refine. How can you continue to hone your craft? How can you consider any helpful feedback given?
3. Continue to plant seeds. Growing the trust of your readers and your readership base is a just as worthy of your attention as writing a book. 

Whatever you do, keep writing. Keep creating. God will use your obedience to this calling in ways you may never expect.

#writingonwednesdays #hopewriters #keepwriting #amwriting #writingcommunity #writingcoach
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2022 Abby McDonald | Design by The Design Diva | Development by MRM | Privacy Policy

LET’S STAY CONNECTED

Subscribe to receive my latest posts via email.
As a thank you, I’ll send you a free PDF download of “The Daughter’s Manifesto.”