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