Abby McDonald

Finding the Hope of Christ in a Messy Life

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Surrendering Certainty

Hearing God Today by Letting Go of Tomorrow

Do you feel stuck in a decision you need to make, doubting your ability to hear from God?

Do you sense that He is prompting you to take a step of faith, but you’re waiting for another sign? Friend, I know what it’s like to spend more time in my head than responding to God’s voice. I’ve spent sleepless nights asking God for assurance that I’m headed in the right direction.

But God showed me a better way to live, empowered by three life-changing truths from His Word.

That’s why I wrote this book for you. If you’re tired of doubting, spinning your wheels, and hesitating rather than moving forward, Surrendering Certainty will meet you there. It is a call to every woman who wants to stop living in uncertainty and move toward a life of purpose and God-given confidence.

Surrendering Certainty will show you:

  • How to confidently discern God’s voice without constant second-guessing.
  • Why decision-making is a spiritual act that strengthens faith.
  • Biblical truths about letting go of control and trusting God’s promises for today.

If you’re looking for a clear, practical approach to hearing God’s voice and guidance to overcome fear so you can trust Him fully, this book is for you. Through real-life stories and deep biblical insights, you’ll learn a pathway to renewed confidence and clarity in your calling.

Order now!

Endorsements for Surrendering Certainty

"When it comes to following God’s plan for our lives, we often want to know exactly what the future holds, along with step-by-step instructions for how to make it happen. However, as Abby points out in Surrendering Certainty, hearing from God is less about future outcomes and more about present peace and obedience. If you’re stuck—craving security, paralyzed with fear, worried about making the wrong choice or doubting your ability to fulfill God’s call—this book provides a wise and thoughtful way forward. By asking probing questions, sharing personal struggles, and drawing truth from scripture, Abby helps us see that trusting God for the next step is what brings true freedom."

-Lois Flowers, blogger, editor, and self-described person who always reads the end of the book first

Shift by Abby McDonald
2025-01-27T11:06:35-05:00

-Lois Flowers, blogger, editor, and self-described person who always reads the end of the book first

"When it comes to following God’s plan for our lives, we often want to know exactly what the future holds, along with step-by-step instructions for how to make it happen. However, as Abby points out in Surrendering Certainty, hearing from God is less about future outcomes and more about present peace and obedience. If you’re stuck—craving security, paralyzed with fear, worried about making the wrong choice or doubting your ability to fulfill God’s call—this book provides a wise and thoughtful way forward. By asking probing questions, sharing personal struggles, and drawing truth from scripture, Abby helps us see that trusting God for the next step is what brings true freedom."
https://abbymcdonald.org/testimonials/lois-flowers/
"Did I miss God?” I’ve asked myself this question many times. I make a shaky move in the direction I feel God leading me, but when things don’t go as expected, I wonder if I heard him right. Surrendering Certainty is the resource I’ve been waiting for. Through relatable stories and deep Scriptural insight, Abby guides readers into a stronger relationship with the One who speaks into our lives with gentleness and love. A life-changing read for anyone, like me, who longs to hear God’s voice and respond with faith and confidence."

 

 

-Kristine Brown, author and teacher

Shift by Abby McDonald
2025-01-22T12:37:35-05:00

-Kristine Brown, author and teacher

"Did I miss God?” I’ve asked myself this question many times. I make a shaky move in the direction I feel God leading me, but when things don’t go as expected, I wonder if I heard him right. Surrendering Certainty is the resource I’ve been waiting for. Through relatable stories and deep Scriptural insight, Abby guides readers into a stronger relationship with the One who speaks into our lives with gentleness and love. A life-changing read for anyone, like me, who longs to hear God’s voice and respond with faith and confidence."    
https://abbymcdonald.org/testimonials/https-abbymcdonald-org-testimonials-kristine-brown-2/
"This book is for anyone who thinks knowing God’s voice to understand his guidance is either too murky or reserved for a spiritually select few. Surrendering Uncertainty unpacks practical, scripture-based insight to help us get unstuck and go where God leads. After watching Abby absolutely live out this book navigating big moves, career opportunities, and frustrating obstacles, I’m thrilled her tested wisdom is here for us all."

- Lisa Appelo, author of Life Can Be Good Again: Putting Your World Back Together After It All Falls Apart

Shift by Abby McDonald
2025-01-27T11:08:18-05:00

- Lisa Appelo, author of Life Can Be Good Again: Putting Your World Back Together After It All Falls Apart

"This book is for anyone who thinks knowing God’s voice to understand his guidance is either too murky or reserved for a spiritually select few. Surrendering Uncertainty unpacks practical, scripture-based insight to help us get unstuck and go where God leads. After watching Abby absolutely live out this book navigating big moves, career opportunities, and frustrating obstacles, I’m thrilled her tested wisdom is here for us all."
https://abbymcdonald.org/testimonials/lisa-appelo/
"How can I be certain I’m hearing God’s voice? Abby McDonald invites us to ask a better question: What keeps me from doing what God directs me to do? In this conversational and deeply personal short chapter book, Abby guides her readers to let go of the fear that keeps us from moving forward in faith, and trust that God, who wants us to flourish, will guide us at each step as we seek to do His will."

- Karen Wingate, Author, With Open Ears: 60 Reflections on the Wonder of Sound from a Woman Born Blind.

Shift by Abby McDonald
2025-01-22T12:58:52-05:00

- Karen Wingate, Author, With Open Ears: 60 Reflections on the Wonder of Sound from a Woman Born Blind.

"How can I be certain I’m hearing God’s voice? Abby McDonald invites us to ask a better question: What keeps me from doing what God directs me to do? In this conversational and deeply personal short chapter book, Abby guides her readers to let go of the fear that keeps us from moving forward in faith, and trust that God, who wants us to flourish, will guide us at each step as we seek to do His will."
https://abbymcdonald.org/testimonials/karen-wingate/
"Abby McDonald writes with the warmth of a trusted friend and the wisdom of someone who has wrestled with the same doubts and fears we all face. Surrendering Certainty will have you laughing, reflecting, and learning to recognize God’s gentle guidance in the everyday. Through her own story, Abby invites readers to release the need for control, embrace the freedom of faith, and take the next step—no matter how uncertain it feels. If you’re longing to hear God’s voice and trust His plan, this book is a must-read."

- Krissy Nelson - Author, Speaker, Author Coach, Krissy Nelson Consulting

Shift by Abby McDonald
2025-01-27T10:56:05-05:00

- Krissy Nelson - Author, Speaker, Author Coach, Krissy Nelson Consulting

"Abby McDonald writes with the warmth of a trusted friend and the wisdom of someone who has wrestled with the same doubts and fears we all face. Surrendering Certainty will have you laughing, reflecting, and learning to recognize God’s gentle guidance in the everyday. Through her own story, Abby invites readers to release the need for control, embrace the freedom of faith, and take the next step—no matter how uncertain it feels. If you’re longing to hear God’s voice and trust His plan, this book is a must-read."
https://abbymcdonald.org/testimonials/krissy-nelson/
“Hearing and heeding the voice of God is the surest way I know to turn a weary faith walk into a wide-eyed adventure. That’s why I’m thankful for the message of Surrendering Certainty. With the warmth of a friend and the wisdom of a mentor, Abby McDonald demystifies the idea of hearing from God and equips us to be confident listeners and courageous followers. If you’re ready for an adventure, open this book and offer God your ears.”

—Alicia Bruxvoort, author, Bible teacher, member of the Proverbs 31 Ministries writing team

Shift by Abby McDonald
2025-01-27T10:59:39-05:00

—Alicia Bruxvoort, author, Bible teacher, member of the Proverbs 31 Ministries writing team

“Hearing and heeding the voice of God is the surest way I know to turn a weary faith walk into a wide-eyed adventure. That’s why I’m thankful for the message of Surrendering Certainty. With the warmth of a friend and the wisdom of a mentor, Abby McDonald demystifies the idea of hearing from God and equips us to be confident listeners and courageous followers. If you’re ready for an adventure, open this book and offer God your ears.”
https://abbymcdonald.org/testimonials/alicia-bruxvoort/
"In Surrendering Certainty: Hearing God Today by Letting Go of Tomorrow, Abby McDonald helps us discover true contentment in our right-now moments through surrendering our need for next-step certainty to God. McDonald beautifully weaves engaging personal stories and solid biblical truth throughout the pages showing us how to release our expectations for the clarity we think we need and embrace the journey of moving forward in faith. Readers will appreciate the simple yet practical steps to walk forward without fear, trade comfort and familiarity for adventurous faith, and consider the possibility that life’s distractions are, as McDonald suggests, “holy moments”, meant to refine us and transform our lives. I highly recommend Surrendering Certainty, a message that reminds us our purpose and calling is ultimately rooted in Jesus. This book will refresh your soul and encourage you to venture beyond whatever you’re waiting for."

– Doris Swift, host of the Fierce Calling podcast, speaker, and author of Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You.

Shift by Abby McDonald
2025-01-27T10:57:52-05:00

– Doris Swift, host of the Fierce Calling podcast, speaker, and author of Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You.

"In Surrendering Certainty: Hearing God Today by Letting Go of Tomorrow, Abby McDonald helps us discover true contentment in our right-now moments through surrendering our need for next-step certainty to God. McDonald beautifully weaves engaging personal stories and solid biblical truth throughout the pages showing us how to release our expectations for the clarity we think we need and embrace the journey of moving forward in faith. Readers will appreciate the simple yet practical steps to walk forward without fear, trade comfort and familiarity for adventurous faith, and consider the possibility that life’s distractions are, as McDonald suggests, “holy moments”, meant to refine us and transform our lives. I highly recommend Surrendering Certainty, a message that reminds us our purpose and calling is ultimately rooted in Jesus. This book will refresh your soul and encourage you to venture beyond whatever you’re waiting for."
https://abbymcdonald.org/testimonials/doris-swift/
"Reading Surrendering Certainty helped dispel all my fearful thoughts about taking the wrong next step and ruining my life. Abby invites her reader to ask the right questions and to rest in the certain faithfulness of our Heavenly Father. Every chapter is grounded in Biblical wisdom and provides practical guidance so that even indecisive people like me can make well-informed choices and move forward with confident faith."

–Lyli Dunbar, Writer, Biblical Life Coach, and Host of The Wildfire Faith Podcast; Writer for Proverbs 31 Ministries First 5 App and Love God Greatly

Shift by Abby McDonald
2025-01-21T14:40:37-05:00

–Lyli Dunbar, Writer, Biblical Life Coach, and Host of The Wildfire Faith Podcast; Writer for Proverbs 31 Ministries First 5 App and Love God Greatly

"Reading Surrendering Certainty helped dispel all my fearful thoughts about taking the wrong next step and ruining my life. Abby invites her reader to ask the right questions and to rest in the certain faithfulness of our Heavenly Father. Every chapter is grounded in Biblical wisdom and provides practical guidance so that even indecisive people like me can make well-informed choices and move forward with confident faith."
https://abbymcdonald.org/testimonials/lyli-dunbar-2/
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Here’s what makes our eternal Father proud – when we take a risk, stumble through the unmet expectations and difficulties, and keep going. #SurrenderingCertainty

I wonder how often we miss opportunities God gives us because we’re more desperate to hold on to who are than to experience who we’re becoming. #SurrenderingCertainty


When we’re willing to trust God more than we trust our own plans, hopes, and dreams for the future, our faith expands like new growth reaching toward the sun. #SurrenderingCertainty

Let’s not let the counsel of others replace the counsel of the living God. #SurrenderingCertainty

A finite mind and body can’t carry the knowledge and weight of an infinite God. God is outside of time, but we aren’t. #SurrenderingCertainty


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What we view as a closed door is often God’s way of refining us into followers who are relentless in our pursuit of his call on our lives. https://abbymcdonald.org/surrenderingcertainty #SurrenderingCertainty Share on X We must accept the paradox that while we tend to want either-or explanations and paths, we serve a God who loves to say “and.” https://abbymcdonald.org/surrenderingcertainty #SurrenderingCertainty Share on X We talk ourselves out of good things God wants us to pursue before we even get started because we can’t see the person he sees. https://abbymcdonald.org/surrenderingcertainty #SurrenderingCertainty Share on X In order to persevere in the good works God planned for us to do, it’s crucial for us to realize God’s pace is not our pace. https://abbymcdonald.org/surrenderingcertainty #SurrenderingCertainty Share on X

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Surrendering Certainty: Hearing God Today by Letting Go of Tomorrow by Abby McDonald

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Abby McDonald

About the Author

Abby McDonald is a blogger, speaker, wife, and mom whose work has been featured on (in)Courage, For Every Mom, iBelieve, Crosswalk, and more. Her passion is to empower women to grow in faith and hope, even when life is messy. She earned a BA in English from the University of South Carolina and teaches writing workshops both online and at conferences each year. Abby lives with her husband and three children in western Maryland.

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After a ligament repair surgery in early September After a ligament repair surgery in early September, I had to make some drastic changes in my day-to-day life. As someone who loves to be self-sufficient, I realized very quickly that this was going to be a stretching season. No weight bearing meant many of the abilities I took for granted were off limits. 

As I continue to recover, God is showing me a few things:

1. Rest is a gift, not a punishment.

I thought I knew this but forced physical rest makes it take a new meaning. Our bodies not only need it, they demand it. 

But beyond the fact that we need it, God designed rest as a natural reset. 

2. It’s okay to ask need help and to ask for it.

I’m not very good at asking for help, but God has shown me it how it blesses not only me, but those who are able to give it. Our church family has been such a gift to us during this time. They’ve stepped up without being asked and reminded me that I wasn’t alone. 

3. The time I spend with God during the harvesting seasons will fuel me during the hard, dry seasons. 

Needless to say, this has been a difficult season. I’ve felt upended in many ways, and have fought depression, anxiety, and isolation. But in the middle of all of this, God has sent me steady reminders of His presence. He’s shown up in unexpected ways, and His grace has sustained me in each moment.

And last week, I took my first post-surgery steps. 🙌🏼🎉
Here’s what I’m learning from this new trend of as Here’s what I’m learning from this new trend of asking AI to describe you- When we see something good in someone, let’s not hold it back. So often, we keep encouragement to ourselves. We notice the strength, the grace or talent, but we never speak it. Why? 

Meanwhile, the people we hold it back from might be walking around discouraged or disillusioned. They might not see what we see. 
 
So no, I don’t want to ask AI to access everything I’ve posted or stored on my phone to make statements about me. 
I’d rather ask another human- like my kids, a dear friend, or my husband. I’d rather them tell me the good, the bad, and everything in between. 

 I want to see their face and their eyes, hear the inflection in their voice, and absorb it in real time. I want to hear from someone who knows all my idiosyncrasies and weaknesses, but loves me anyway.
I have always wanted God to make things obvious. A I have always wanted God to make things obvious. As long as I can remember, this longing for God to give me the black-and-white sign telling me which way to go has been constant. 

But more often, God’s guidance feels like a gentle nudge. A thought that lingers. A desire that won’t go away.

I’m learning that when God doesn’t give me a flashing sign, it doesn’t mean He is withholding from me. Sometimes He is teaching me to trust Him. Here are three things He’s revealed to me as I learn to do that, day by day.

1. God wants us to know His voice.

For years, I wondered what it really meant to hear from God. I’d grown up hearing the stories of Moses and the burning bush, and knew how God spoke to prophets. 

Then I had my own children. I watched my kids come to me with their hopes and dreams without hesitation. And as I watched them, something began to shift in my understanding of God. Slowly, I realized He wanted that kind of openness with me, too. 

2. God is asking us to trust His character more than answers.

If I’m honest, I think that if God would just tell me what’s on the other side of my step of faith, things would be easier. I’ll have more confidence, and I’ll do it. But that’s not really what faith is, is it? We believe that more information will give us more freedom and peace, but most of the time, it does the opposite. 

Jesus offers a different invitation in Matthew 11. Come to me, He says, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. He doesn’t say, “Come to me, and I’ll explain everything.” He says, “Come to me.”

3. Faith grows when we take the next step.

There is something beautiful that happens when we respond to God’s quiet nudges. They create a track record. We can look back and see the moments when we moved forward even in the unknown, and God was faithful. 

Another thing these steps of faith do is create momentum. Momentum is gained by movement, and the same is true with our faith. Perhaps today, instead of asking, “God, will You please show me everything?” we can pray something simpler: “God, help me trust You with what I cannot see.”
“Go back to your why.” A dear friend said this to “Go back to your why.”

A dear friend said this to me earlier this week and I knew she spoke wisdom. For months, I’d felt like the creative joy and energy had been sucked right out of me. As much as I tell coaching clients to find their why remember it, I too am prone to forget. 

Much of the time, this happens when I get stuck in the land of “have to.” Perhaps you’ve been there too.

- I have do _______ to attract the eyes of a publisher.
- I have to keep up with the ever changing algorithms on social media.
- I have to write on this topic, even though it’s not what I’m passionate about.
- I have to do ________because all these other authors are doing it.

There is nothing that will suck the joy out of the creative spirit like this mindset. Lord knows, I’ve been there. I’ve gotten sucked into the all consuming drive to keep up and produce.

And I’m tired. This season, I’m taking time to remember my why. I’m remembering what brings me joy and why I love writing. As I seek God’s leading in this time of reflection, I’m so glad it’s His joy that is my strength.
I can’t believe it’s been 25 years. I had just sta I can’t believe it’s been 25 years. I had just started my first job after graduating from college and was in training every day. A coworker heard about the attack on the Pentagon from a security officer before we received news about the twin towers. For the rest of the day, our training facilitator tried to continue the day as usual but no one was engaged. Some frantically tried to get a hold of loved ones in NYC on their cell phones. Others just sat there in a daze. No one cared about work. 

Today, I pray for all of those who lost loved ones that day in in the days that followed. I pray for our nation and for the sense of unity we had then to be rebirthed. I pray we will not forget the things that matter most. 

*Photo taken at the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, PA.
In world full of noise telling us who we are and w In world full of noise telling us who we are and what we need, these three things remain true. Turn your face toward Him today and listen to His voice. He will never speak to His child with a voice of condemnation.
Each time we say “yes” to God, we leave a trail. W Each time we say “yes” to God, we leave a trail. We leave a path for others to follow and a legacy of faithfulness for them to cling to when the view ahead is unclear. That is what the women and men of the Bible did for us, and it’s what we can do for others when we stop and commemorate moments of victory. 

Commemorating those moments of victory may look like:

📌 Sharing stories of God’s faithfulness with others- your family community, church, etc.

📝 Writing your story for others to read.

🙌🏼 Celebrating steps of faith you’ve taken, what God has done, and how you’ve grown. 

Sometimes we get so focused on what’s next, we forget to create altars of remembrance. We forget to celebrate our progress and what God has done. But each time we do this, we create that trail. We bear witness to the faithfulness of the living God.

Let’s not forget the forget the legacy we leave with each remembered moment today.

#seekhimfirst #hisfaithfulness #faithwriter
Many of us are trying to find certainty in this wo Many of us are trying to find certainty in this world that feels so unstable. Questions can keep us up at night and cause continuous, low-grade anxiety.
 
When will the sickness end?
Will my family member stop running from God?
How will I know whether to take the job?
 
Too often, we go to others first — online “experts,” friends, even pastors — instead of God. Scripture instructs us to seek wise counsel, yet it’s also clear that the most “Wonderful Counselor” is God Himself (Isaiah 9:6, NIV).
 
Thanks be to God, He is ready and willing to speak to us when we come to Him. When we don’t, we miss out on a beautiful gift He offers each of us who calls Him Lord: the ability to hear His voice.
 
Jeremiah reminds us that some things can only be revealed to us by the Creator: “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3).
 
This prophet asked God many questions. He longed for justice and wondered why the wicked seemed to prosper. He begged a defiant, wayward Israel to return to the Lord, though they didn’t listen. When it seemed like things couldn’t get worse, Jeremiah was kidnapped by rebels and taken to Egypt. There, in the middle of what seemed like a hopeless situation, the word of the Lord came to him.
 
God reminded Jeremiah that He still had a plan for Israel’s redemption. Every question Jeremiah asked had an answer, even if it didn’t look the way he thought it would.
 
Friend, seeking God for ourselves takes courage. It takes putting aside our desire for immediate answers and practicing patience. But when we do, we foster our ability to hear Him. And it’s always worth it.
 
God, thank You for Your promise to speak to each one of us who calls You Lord. When we’re tempted to trade this for a quick answer, help us remember the priceless gift we have in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

➡️ Read the full devo at @proverbs31ministries
I was prepping for a talk when I discovered these I was prepping for a talk when I discovered these notes from two years ago. These were the beginnings of chapter 3 in Surrendering Certainty, The Tree of Life Called Desire. It’s one of my favorite chapters, and it was also one of the most difficult to write. 

But the blessing of writing it and working through the fear, brain fog, and procrastination? One thousand percent worth it. 

Writing, as Hemingway once said, is sometimes like, “drilling out rock and blasting it with charges.” In an age where it’s easier to hop on ChatGPT anytime something gets difficult, can I encourage you to resist the urge?

I believe AI has its place and its benefits, but I also believe we are forfeiting our creativity to a machine. And each time we do, it becomes a little easier to do it without even thinking about the consequences. It’s not worth it. As an editor, I can tell you that AI writing does not sound human; it is quite obviously robotic.

Will it take more time to write through the struggle? Yes. But the One who breathed life into Adam, the Author of Creativity himself, still breathes life into our words and our art. And the struggle is very essence of it. 

Art without struggle isn’t art. It’s merely an imitation. 

So keep pushing back against the resistance and create. I can promise you, you won’t be sorry.

#writinglife #writingcommunity
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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!