Abby McDonald

Finding the Hope of Christ in a Messy Life

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About

Welcome to my little space on the internet. I am so glad you are here, and hope you will stick around for a while.

I am a wife and a mom of two very energetic boys and one sweet baby girl. Although I’m a southerner by birth, I’ve become somewhat of a gypsy since marriage, traveling across the country twice and being stretched with each move.

I am also a writer, an avid reader, a photography lover, and a drinker of copious amounts of coffee. I love curling up with a good book and a cup of coffee by the wood stove, and find myself most at home surrounded by mountains. But most of all, I am a child of God. He is my life, my breath, the reason why I get up every morning, and the reason why I write.

Writing has been my passion for as long as I can remember. When I was a little girl, I used the static from the television to hold my freshly written poems against it and distract my Dad from watching the evening news.

For most of my life, I rarely shared my writing with anyone. After college, I abandoned my dream to write for many years, as I didn’t think it was a realistic or practical way to make a living. I pursued a “real job” in the real world, and for long time was completely miserable.

My passion for writing was reborn after the birth of my first child.

For over a year, I struggled with postpartum depression, and writing was one of the pursuits that allowed me to see the Light again.

I realized that my identity was not firmly rooted in who I was in Christ, and I was basing my self worth on the opinion of others and my ability to perform as a wife, mother, friend, and worker. Once I stopped working and decided to become a stay-at-home mom, all of the distractions I had used to determine my value as a person disintegrated.

In my search for stability, I found that God alone determines my life has worth. He says I am “fearfully and wonderfully made” and that he “created my inmost being.” (Psalm 139) Before I was even born, he saw me and knew my life’s purpose.

This blog was born because I felt God pushing me to share my writing with others who may feel alone in their struggles. I want my readers to know that they are created by a God who will relentlessly pursue them, even during the darkest times. That even in the midst of a messy life with an endless pile of laundry and dishes, the hope of Christ can be found.

Will you stick around with me? Here’s what you can expect to find here:

  • Weekly, biblically based encouragement to ground you in the truths of who God says you are instead of the noise of the world

  • A fresh perspective to help you see God even in the thick of life’s messes

  • Real conversations about real struggles with faith and doubt, and practical tools to help you move forward. Because no one needs fake.

I hope to see you here again, friend. I promise to be authentic, vulnerable and real with you as we explore this life together and find hope in the everyday. Even when it’s messy.

*Photos courtesy of Karen Morgan Photography

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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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His goodness will follow you into the unknown, int His goodness will follow you into the unknown, into the dark valleys and shadows. It will never leave. Even when it feels as though the world is closing in on you and you have nothing left to give, his goodness will follow you.

Speak this truth over your life today. Even if you have difficulty believing it today, he will use your proclamation of truth. You will defeat the enemy with arrows from his Word. His attacks against you will not stand.

#hisgoodness #faithwriter #keepgoing #hisgrace
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
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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!