God's presence in the storm

Happy New Year everyone! After a long hiatus I am back and ready to get things ramped up again. It’s been months since I last put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and a new blog post has been long overdue. These past few months have presented some of the lowest lows , but an incredible dependency on God has come from it. One that I am excited to share with you all!

When I first began Our Daily Bread, I was a new believer—untested and unrefined. I hadn’t yet been put through the fires that reveal what’s truly in our hearts. The process of sanctification has been difficult at times, but it has also been deeply rewarding.

In recent months I’ve felt my walk with Jesus grow stronger. Trials I once would have crumbled under no longer have the same power over me. Instead of being crippled by fear, shame, or doubt, I’ve learned to lean into God’s presence and His promises. That is the beauty of the storm: God never promised we wouldn’t face hardships; He promised to go through them with us.

If you’re in the middle of a trial today, remember that sanctification isn’t about quick fixes or instant perfection. It’s a steady refining—sometimes painful, always purposeful. Keep seeking Christ in prayer, Scripture, and community. Let the trial do its work of drawing you closer to Him, trusting that He walks beside you and shapes you along the way.

This summer, amid chaos and despair, God drew me to Psalm 23. I read it again and again until its words became my lifeline—reminding me that whatever I face, the Lord walks beside me. He kept that promise; He was with me through every step of the storm.

At first I expected God to show up in big, unmistakable ways. My circumstances felt hopeless, so I assumed deliverance would come with thunder—an audible voice, a blazing sign, a dramatic rescue. God did save me in a big way, but not how I had pictured. There was no burning bush, no thunderclap, no angelic proclamation. What came was quieter—and far greater.

The week God led me to Psalm 23, my church began a series called Summer in the Psalms. Coincidence? Not at all. For six weeks the messages unpacked how God is present with us through the storms. Each sermon felt tailor-made. I drank in every word, but God’s primary answer wasn’t only in spoken truth from the pulpit. He showed up through people.

A friend tended to me, prayed with me, and held me when I couldn’t stand. God placed in my heart a hunger for godly community and guided me to a life group that lifted me. He led me to serve, to join a weekly women’s group, to be surrounded by souls who would walk with me long after the immediate crisis passed. Those relationships didn’t make headlines. They didn’t make for a dramatic testimony on the evening news. But they were the steady, sustaining presence I needed.

I had expected spectacle; God knew I needed sustenance. He knew I needed belonging, accountability, and hands that would continue to hold me when the adrenaline of rescue faded. Yes, God could have sent an angel to declare His love. Instead He planted people and practices that would nurture me into wholeness.

God’s ways are often quieter than we imagine—but no less miraculous. When you’re waiting for a sign, look for the people He sends, the invitations to gather, the small acts of faithfulness that testify to His presence. Those are often the very means by which God redeems us, not only in the moment of crisis but for the long walk forward.

Now, I have immersed myself in the church and have been showered with love and grace. I have found purpose in serving and a passion to go even further. I have found a complete dependence on God that I did not have before, a deeper understanding of His character and His love for me, and a newfound appreciation for Jesus and His sacrifice for us.

If you are in a storm right now take comfort in knowing our God is with you. Place your trust in Him and let Him lead you to still waters. There is purpose in the pain and God will use this season for your good. Why? Because He loves us. Focus on His unconditional, gracious love for His children. Take a deep breath and know God has got this, Hes got you.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd;

I have what I need.

He lets me lie down in green pastures;

he leads me beside quiet waters.

He renews my life;

he leads me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.

Even when I go through the darkest valley,

I fear no danger,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff - they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

as long as I live.

God Bless,

Abby

My Testimony

Welcome to Our Daily Bread! If you have made it to this page you may be wondering what a non-food related blog is doing on a bakery website. That's a great question! A Touch of God is my personal blog where I will share how God has moved through my life and through the lives of others. The purpose is to share the goodness of God and how powerful it can be when he moves through us. By sharing my story and the stories of others I hope to inspire you to give your life to Jesus, or at the very least become curious about who He is!

Since this is my first post I thought I would start off by sharing my testimony. I was raised a Christian. My mother is a loyal follower of Jesus, but my father is not. Growing up I always associated religion with church attendance. I really thought God was counting how many services I attended. If I only knew then what I know now. When I was in high school I stopped believing in God and rebelled completely. I was depressed, self-loathing, and very misguided. I went through most of my high school and college years placing my identity in things and people that often left me feeling empty. That's when I experienced my first touch of God. I was living out of my car in California with my significant other at the time. My life was on a fast track to nowhere when I found out I was pregnant. I was 21, I had no job, no money and at the time no place to live. I was terrified to say the least, but a part of me knew this baby was going to change my life. So my significant other and I packed up and moved back to our college town to finish school. Except neither one of us ended up graduating and instead I was taken on the hardest journey of my life. I often think back to that time and can't help but feel grateful for the pain. Most people don't look back on abuse and see the good in it, but that's how God's love transforms you. Fast forward about 2 years, my son is 7 months old, I'm living with my parents in Florida and going to nursing school. I started attending a local church with some friends. One Sunday, I was sitting in the pews waiting for the service to start when the assistant pastor had come up to me and said "I don't know why, but I have the overwhelming feeling to tell you God is with you and he loves you". Little did he know two days prior I experienced a trauma that would stick with me forever. This was a monumental moment in my life. Throughout all the pain I endured, I forgot about God. But He never forgot about me. He kept me in His sights and brought me through to the other side. I eventually ended up leaving my son's father, and for a little while, things were okay. I started dating a nice guy, I was co-parenting well and getting straight A's in school. When my son turned four I ended a three year relationship and found myself in a similar spot to when I was 21. I was unexpectedly pregnant, living with my parents, and still a little lost. I was overwhelmed trying to navigate my new normal. My son's dad had just left, I had a surprise pregnancy, and although I was happy, I still felt something was missing. My son had just started school at a christian academy and it was his teacher who sent me another touch of God. At our parent teacher conference I shared with her the battles I was facing and instead of being met with judgment and condemnation she met me with grace and love. She shared with me her struggles and comforted my soul. Sometimes God places you in situations because you're meant to meet certain people who will bring you closer to Him. My son and I were meant to meet Mrs. Williams. At the hardest time in my son's life, the staff at his school lifted him up with prayer and love and he flourished instead of faltering. That school made such an impact on us, that we now attend that church every Sunday. And every Sunday I am met with just as much grace and love as I was by Mrs. Williams years ago. And although I was attending church regularly, occasionally praying and reading the bible, I was still not walking with God. Because God is not looking at your church attendance, he wants your heart. That was the one thing I had not given up. My heart was filled with bitterness, hate and unforgiveness. I desperately needed God and I am so happy I found him. I happened to be scrolling through social media about a year and a half ago and came across a post from Girls Gone Bible. My curiosity was piqued, and I listened to one of their podcasts. Immediately I felt the conviction of God. I was living in sin and had no idea who God really was. I started listening to a podcast from GGB daily, and my life really began to change. Instead of worrying about my church attendance I started focusing on my relationship with Jesus. I started reading my bible every day and began a quiet time routine. My life now looks very different than it did a year ago. I don't listen to the same music, talk the same way, or even do the same things. I have new passions and a new routine centered around God. It's not an easy journey, denying yourself the temptations you once entertained, but it is worth it!

I have heard many different testimonies these past couple of months. A lot of them involve a supernatural encounter with God that changed their life. As I looked back on my testimony I realized it wasn't one big and powerful encounter with God, but many small touches. Each touch planted a seed and brought me a little closer to Him. God knew I would make my way back, He knew my journey before I did. And this is where the inspiration for a Touch of God came from. It took me years to find Jesus and walk in his Grace, He was patient with me and left me little touches along the way. If you happen to stumble across this site, I hope my testimony becomes a touch of God for you. I hope that every time you turn away from God, you change your mind and turn back. I hope you find your blessing in the pain, I hope you find Jesus. I hope one day you can tell me all about your story and how God changed your life.

Until then...

"May the Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make his face shine on you

and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace"

Numbers 6:24-26

I am the one that Jesus loves

Anyone here really hard on themselves and needs to give themselves a little more of the Grace God gives us? Me too.

I've been working with a therapist recently, and one of the things I've been focusing on is how I talk to myself. I never really noticed it before, but I go through my day criticizing almost everything I do. A lot of this critique relates to the shame I feel about past mistakes.

Something I heard God telling me on repeat this past week was "let it go." Let go of your past mistakes, let go of your past relationships, let go of your past traumas. I sat with this for a little while and was led to the story of Lot's wife.

The Story of Lot's Wife

The story goes that Lot and his family were escaping Sodom and Gomorrah, and God instructed them not to look back. While they were running, Lot's wife turned and looked back at the city and she turned into a pillar of salt. Naturally, I saw a lot of similarities to myself in this story. I too am guilty of looking back; the only difference is I haven't turned into a pillar of salt.

Why Do We Look Back?

This got me thinking about the why. Why do we look back? I think we hold on to the past for two main reasons:

1. To Punish Ourselves: If we treated someone poorly, struggled with addiction, etc., and we don't forgive ourselves for it, we become stuck. We get so caught up in the mistakes we've made that we can't see forward. Sometimes we may justify it to ourselves and say we don't deserve forgiveness or we deserve retribution. But this holds us back. Instead of coming to terms with our shame, forgiving ourselves, and dedicating our lives to being better, we wallow because we think that's what we deserve.

2. Fear of Judgment: We're afraid of the judgment of others. Has someone you knew ever made a bad choice and gotten bitten in the butt from it? Have you ever said, "It's about time that person got what they deserved," or "I hope they feel really bad about what they did"? I think we are all guilty of saying that about someone at some point in our life. While conviction is good, condemnation is not. Should you feel convicted when you have made a bad decision? Yes. But should you condemn yourself to a life in prison for it? No.

Why Does God Want Us to Let It Go?

Because He forgives us. God knows that we are imperfect; He expects that we will fall short. He wants us to repent for what we've done so that we can be free of the shame, the guilt, and the condemnation. If you feel shame, know it is not from God but from the enemy. God will convict you, but He will not shame you for your transgressions. Holding on to shame will hold us down. We cannot grow until we let it go.

I am guilty of holding on, of feeling unworthy of God's love and forgiveness. But the beautiful thing is He loves us anyway. He will take you just as you are and transform you into someone you never thought possible.

Remembering God's Love

I was watching a sermon recently, and one of the things the pastor said was if you don't feel deserving of God's love, say to yourself, "I am the one that Jesus loves." Don't ever forget that Jesus died on the cross so YOU could be forgiven. Jesus did not sacrifice Himself for the holiest people. He sacrificed Himself for the sinners.

"He has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help" (Psalm 22:24).

Say it with me: "I am the one that Jesus loves." Say it to yourself until you believe it. Regardless of what shame the enemy tries to hold you under, always remember the love of Jesus Christ will set you free.

God Bless,

Abby

Roses are red

Happy Monday and Happy Mother's Day to all the mamas out there!

God sent a little touch in the sweetest way this week. As all you moms know, the school year is coming to a close here in Florida. Naturally, we are being sent home with all the projects from throughout the year. As I was going through them, I came across a poem that Maverick wrote:

Roses are Red 
God loves you 
Don't forget that Jesus does too. 

Roses are Red, Violets are Blue
Don't forget that Jesus loves you too!

Roses are Red, Violets are Blue
God loves you, 
and Jesus too!

Roses are Red, Violets are Blue
Jesus died on the Cross for you!

I love Maverick's passion for Jesus. He really has become quite the evangelist, and I can’t help but feel so much pride reading this. Maverick has about a million questions about God. Some questions are easy to answer, and others really stump me.

More often than I like to admit, I find myself getting frustrated with the endless line of questioning. But when I take a step back, I realize just how blessed I am that he is asking questions and that I get to teach him about God.

One of the most important roles of a mother is to be a teacher. While the rapid-fire questions can be overstimulating sometimes, it is so important to give our kids a strong foundation in God before they get older. I often wonder if God plants some of the questions in his head to not just teach him but to teach me. Those moments are opportunities not just to help him learn but for me to grow in my relationship with God too.

It's comforting to know that he is not only absorbing what I teach him, but it is taking root in his heart, and he feels empowered to share it with his peers.

While this week's Touch of God was simple, it also reminds us of the responsibility we have as parents to lead and teach our children in the ways of God. I'm still learning what it means to be a Godly mother. Most days, I feel like I am falling short, but then God sends me a little reminder that I'm doing just fine.

Mamas, no matter where you are on your journey, you are doing great! Take a second to appreciate your little ones and give yourself some much-needed love. And as Maverick said, "Don't forget that Jesus loves you too!"

God Bless,

Abby

Distraction

So often we ask God "where are you?", "why have you left?", "why can't I hear you?". Most of the time, He's right there, but it's our noise that keeps Him out.

How are we supposed to hear God when our minds and our hearts are bombarded with spam every second? We worship the time on our phones instead of taking time away from our phones to worship God, and then we get angry when we don't hear from him.

But he's right there...

If you could hear Him, He's saying "slow down" ,"I never left you, you left Me".

Since when did a small rectangle become more powerful than the Word of God? Than time spent with God? How is it that our society says they couldn't possibly live without their phone, they'd be lost without their phone, but they can live without God? I can't.

I've spent the last three weeks distracted, pulled away from my purpose, prioritizing things that don't matter, wasting countless hours numbing myself scrolling on my phone and then asking God, 'Where are You?'

When it was really God who should have been asking me that question.

I neglected my quiet time. I used the excuse, 'I'm tired, I don't feel good, I want to spend more time with my husband'. What if God used those excuses on us?

I heard your prayer but I can't answer right now; I'm busy.

Sorry, give me just a minute; I'm watching a TikTok.

Hold on; I have an important phone call.

I have plans with someone else; sorry.

God is busier than we can ever imagine; He has billions of people to watch over, listen to, and love. And yet, HE NEVER LEAVES. He never tells us 'In a minute', He is never too busy for us. So what is our excuse?

We don't want to make time for Him. We enjoy the instant gratification we get from our phone. The busyness keeps the things we don't want to deal with away. If we load our schedule, we don't have time to address our grief, sadness, or our fears. If we spend time with God, He will look at our heart. He will see our brokenness and He will fix it. But that is painful and uncomfortable, and we don't want to do that. So we turn on our phones, we numb our minds, we schedule another meeting and then we go to bed wondering where God went.

God has been there the whole time. You've been too distracted to see Him, to feel Him , to hear Him.

If you're like me, you need a break from all the noise so you can hear God again.

Put the phone down, carve out some time in your day, and invite Him into it.

Make room for Jesus.

Make Jesus the one you cant live without.

Replace your phone with His Word.

Seek Him.

Find the quiet in all the noise.

You will find Him there. He is everywhere, and He will never leave.

God Bless,

Abby