This past year has been a season of quiet stretching for me. Learning to live independently hasn’t been loud or dramatic, but it has been deeply formative. More than anything, it has made me aware of the Lord’s steady, faithful presence woven through ordinary days.
Independence hasn’t been about proving myself or having everything figured out. It has been about learning a new rhythm of life while staying close to God. Throughout this year, He has met me not in big moments, but in consistent ones—reminding me that I don’t have to rush, strive, or perform to be held by Him.
There were times when this season felt overwhelming. Living with dystonia means daily life requires extra thought, pacing, and patience. Independence didn’t remove those realities; it brought them into clearer focus. Some days felt slow. Some tasks took longer than I expected. But again and again, I sensed the Lord gently reassuring me that I wasn’t behind—I was being led.
What has stood out most this year is how present God has been. Not distant. Not silent. Present in the middle of learning, adjusting, and growing. Present when I needed calm. Present when I needed courage. Present when I needed rest. His nearness has been the steady ground beneath every step forward.
As I’ve learned to abide with Him, joy has taken root in unexpected ways. Not the loud kind of joy that comes from everything going smoothly, but a quiet joy that comes from knowing I’m not walking alone. A joy found in faithful afternoons, familiar routines, and the peace of trusting God with what I can’t control.
This year has also deepened my understanding of grace—grace for my body, grace for my limits, grace for the learning curve. Abiding with God has taught me that success isn’t measured by productivity, but by presence. By showing up honestly. By listening. By trusting that God is at work even when progress feels slow.
Independence has not meant isolation. God has continued to use people to encourage and support me, reminding me that dependence on Him and connection with others belong together. This year has shown me that independence rooted in God’s presence is not something to fear—it’s something to grow into.
As I reflect, I see a year shaped not by ease, but by faithfulness. God has been near in every step, every lesson, every quiet victory. And that nearness has made all the difference.
“Abide in Me, and I in you.”
— John 15:4
Abiding With Joy Studio 
Love! Love! Love the way you have shared so graciously what God has done in your life due to surrendering yourself to Him and looking for and acknowledge Him in all your ways.
I’m excited for you in this new season of life.
The Lord has blessed you with a wonderful gift of communicating. Thank you for letting Him use you.
Carla Belisle
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Love this SO MUCH!!
Love you and am so thankful for you and your insights. Thank you for sharing your heart! Beautiful descriptions and words!
I also love the new name!
I missed reading your blog!
Sent from my iPhone
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Hello dear Abigail:
“—-success is not measured by productivity,
but by presence”.
I read e mail last night & just read it again
this morning. Excellent. Very revealing
and certainly enlightening, & at the same time
very encouraging.
What I gather from how you expressed yourself,
Abbey, is this: God is real to you!! This stands out to me because of how many people know to ‘mention God’
but demonstrate evidence that they do not KNOW
HIM!! Ps. 46 has been a particular blessing to me this
year, especially v10; “Be still & know that I am God”.
Obviously, God is leading, guiding, supplying, & showing you what He is willing to do for anyone who is yielded enough
to ‘be still & know—-that He is GOD!!”
I love ya Abigail, & feel I can pray for you more intelligently
having read your wonderful article.
Grandpa
Sent from my iPhone
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Abby you continue to amaze & influence me & so many others. I’ve watched as you had bad days with so much pain & yet you were still in church & honoring god. I love how you continue to encourage so many. God is working through you daily & I don’t believe god has a time limit for how long it takes you to accomplish anything you’re doing for Him. Stay strong.
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Abby I loved this. You continue to encourage me & so many others. I see the times you are in pain or having a bad day & yet you are still faithful. I’m so glad god brought you into my life. Stay strong. God is in control.
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Thank you for sharing. There’s a lot of wisdom
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So great to hear from you again, sweet Abigail. You are truly a joy and such a faith-builder as you honestly and openly share not just your struggles, but your overwhelming victories as God continues to guide and lead you.
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