Do you ever wonder about blogging? Today we’ll talk about several ways blogging is just like real life.

What do you think of when you hear the word blogging? This word seems to be enough to strike a little fear and intimidation into the heart of bloggers and non-bloggers alike.

A lot of the people I know either don’t really know what blogging is or they think it’s this overwhelming, unattainable occupation.

Honestly, I’ve fallen into both of those categories at one time or another, but as each year passes in this fun and challenging and crazy blogging journey, I realize more and more that blogging is just like real life.

You see, I think those who’re not familiar with blogging think more about the many mechanics required to run a website. They may not know what mechanics are called, but they know intuitively there’s a lot of unseen back-end stuff.

As a blogger, though, it’s not really the mechanics that trip me up.

Sure, there’s a lot to do. A lot to learn. And there’s always something else you just don’t know you need to know.

But it’s the simpler, we-all-deal-with-them kind of stumbling blocks that cause fear in this blogger’s heart, because blogging is just like real life.

How Blogging is Just Like Real Life

#1 – We’re all dealing with things others can’t see.

Think about that person who always seems to have it together. You envy their perfect life every time you see or think about them. Careers, family life, personal style, vacations…the list could go on and on.

We all have one or ten people in our lives like that, and in the blogging world, the “same old” just presents itself a little differently.

You have those bloggers who seem so far ahead of you with their writing, graphics, freebies, and all the stuff. Everything seems so effortlessly … perfect.

That’s the key word, I think—effortlessly.

Nothing comes without effort, and no matter how much we look at other blogs—or old high school friends—with envy, there’s way more going on behind the scenes than you think.

#2 – You’re never alone.

Do you ever feel alone in your Christian walk? Does it feel like you and maybe your family are alone in the fight? I used to feel like that.

When I first started my blogging journey, I didn’t know of many Christian bloggers. I felt alone in the wide expanse of the internet—like Elijah with raised sword against hundreds of Baal priests in 1 Kings.

But just as God showed Elijah, he wasn’t the only one holding on to Truth, God’s shown me I’m nowhere near alone in the blogging world.

I can’t really count all the awesomely talented Bible-believing bloggers I’ve met; there’s a strong Christian blogging community.

And we are not alone in our Christian walks either. Just like there are many other bloggers out there with hearts for Jesus, doing all they can to spread the love of Jesus with the gifts and resources they’ve been given, there are many around us each day walking the walk.

#3 – Don’t compare yourself to someone you’re not.

Comparison really is a killer. Well, not a killer per se. It’s never actually killed anyone—that I know of—but it’s certainly murdered plenty of confidences.

I’m virtually surrounded by beautiful blogs—well-done, well-written, and well-thought-out blogs. At first, I felt like there was something I was lacking when I’d come across a particularly good article, but then I slowly got better at appreciating the ministries of others without feeling inadequate in my own.

Then I came across other bloggers with messages very similar to mine. You mean I didn’t come up with a thought so original no one else has thought of it yet? Nope.

Let me tell you, that brought on the someone-else-is-doing-it-better insecurities.

I’d love to tell you about a profound moment when a revelation came to me, but I can’t. I can tell you that over the last few years, God’s reminded me that we do have different and equally important ministries no matter how similar they look. I’m not them and they’re not me.

Besides, the internet and the world are big, big places.

#4 – Sometimes you’ll put in the hard work without seeing a big return.

Blogging is a lot of work—and expense. There’s so much more that goes into it than jotting down ideas in a pretty font.

A bunch of challenging work.

And while there may be occasional encouraging comments here and there, it can feel like you’re trying to win a race while sloshing along a muddy track. Your subscriber list is still in the double-digits, you’ve made nothing from affiliate sales to recoup any of your expenses, and it seems like no one’s really reading your hard work.

After working hard for years without seeing a big growth, it’s easy to get discouraged, but one of the things I’ve realized is blogging is one of those qualitative things in life. Sure, there are metrics for visitors and comments and subscribers, but those things aren’t a measure of what really counts.

#5 – You don’t have to be profound to touch someone.

I always thought there were some things in life that just flowed. They came easy, in a way, because you were made for them.

In my mind, it’d work something like this: The singer has every confidence she’s got the voice that’ll wow. The painter reveals her gift with every brushstroke. And the writer has only to sit in front of the computer for the words to flow like those from a chatty two-year-old.

Insert eye roll.

Although I think there is a tiny bit of truth to that, there’s still a lot of struggle in our callings of life. My life as a writer is filled with cycles of ups and downs, cycles of writer’s block, and cycles of wondering if I can really do this.

If I’m honest, the lows in those cycles are usually longer than the highs, but something usually happens in those lows: I’ll get the best feedback from articles I think are rushed or not my best. The simplest thing ends up meeting someone where they are.

And I’m reminded that I’m not called to be profound; I’m called to write.

The same is true in our Christian lives. We think we need the perfect words to reach someone else, but the truth is we just need to talk. We need to talk about Jesus and live out the little things in our daily lives.

Honestly, blogging can be intimidating—even for the seasoned blogger—but it’s like everything in life, the hardest things are the most rewarding.

For my blogger friends out there, what would you add to this list? Non-bloggers, I’d love to hear from you, too! Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

*** This post was revised from the archives. Check out the original here. ***

more reading

• 3 Things I’ve Learned Blogging from HISsparrowBlog
• 5 Unexpected Truths Blogging Has Taught Me from HISsparrowBlog
• 5 Roadblocks that Christian Bloggers Face by Natalie from Milk and Honey Faith

I frequently link up with the following: Grace & Truth with Embracing the Unexpected, Tell His Story with Jeanne Takenaka, and Let’s Have Coffee with Joanne Viola.