A Bakery, and God’s Fingerprints

There are moments when God gently pulls back the curtain and allows us to catch a glimpse of what He’s been doing all along.

This week was one of those moments.

My husband had taken the day off to drive me to a few appointments. Normally, we’re rushing from one place to the next, watching the clock and hoping we aren’t late. But on this particular day, we found ourselves with something we rarely have…

A little extra time.

So, between appointments, we decided to stop at a nearby bakery for coffee and a couple of sweet treats.

We almost didn’t.

Looking back now, I don’t believe that stop was an accident for a second.

Years ago, I attended a group called Hope & Healing. It became one of the places where God slowly began putting my heart back together. After a few of us completed the class, our leader encouraged us to come back periodically for alumni nights. She wanted the women who were still walking through the deepest parts of their pain to see something they desperately needed to believe–that healing was possible.

We didn’t go back because we had all the answers. We went back because we were living proof that God was faithful.

During those alumni nights, there was a young woman who always stood out to me. She reminded me so much of myself in those early days.

Fiery.

Angry.

Heartbroken.

Carrying every emotion imaginable while trying to figure out what life looked like after betrayal.

Life moved on, and eventually so did the alumni nights. It’s been about six years since I last attended one.

As my husband and I were checking out at the bakery, I noticed a young woman near the end of the line looking at me.

She looked familiar.

Finally, we made eye contact, and before long we were both trying to figure out where we knew each other from.

Church.

Mutual friends.

Different places we’d been.

Nothing fit.

Then she mentioned attending a local church that I knew well.

I smiled and asked, “Do you happen to know a group called Hope & Healing?”

The moment those words left my mouth, her eyes softened.

“That’s it,” she said.

It was her. The young woman I had not seen for six years.

What happened next felt like one of God’s sweetest gifts.

She told me that although her marriage had ended, God had been so faithful. In His goodness, He had brought an incredible man of God into her life, and she had remarried.

As she shared her story, I couldn’t help but smile. Not because life had turned out exactly the way she once imagined, but because I could see the faithfulness of God written all over her face.

The woman standing in front of me wasn’t the same woman I remembered from those alumni nights.

She had peace.

She had joy.

She had hope.

Then we found ourselves talking about one of the women from our Hope & Healing group who had unexpectedly gone home to be with Jesus. She shared how deeply her testimony had impacted her because their stories were so similar.

I walked away thinking about what a beautiful legacy that is.

Even after we’re gone, a life surrendered to Christ can continue bearing fruit. A testimony can still point people to Jesus.

Isn’t that what every believer hopes for?

That long after we’re gone…

Our lives will still whisper,

“Look what God can do.”

As we got back into the car, I found myself thanking God. Not just for the unexpected reunion, but for reminding me that He never wastes a single act of obedience.

Those Tuesday nights.

Those tears.

Those conversations.

Those prayers.

Those alumni visits.

None of them were wasted.

Most of the time, we never get to see what God is doing with the seeds we’ve planted. We encourage someone. We pray. We share our story.

Then life moves on.

We wonder if any of it mattered.

But every now and then, God graciously pulls back the curtain.

Not because He owes us proof.

Not because we need recognition.

But because He knows our hearts need encouragement too.

That afternoon, between appointments, and pastries in a little bakery, God reminded me that He has been working all along, even when I couldn’t see it.

Maybe you’ve been wondering if your prayers mattered.

If your kindness made a difference.

If your testimony helped anyone.

Can I encourage you today?

Keep loving.

Keep praying.

Keep showing up.

Keep telling your story.

Keep planting those seeds.

You may never see all that God is doing through your faithfulness this side of heaven, but every once in a while…

He’ll leave fingerprints in an ordinary moment just to remind you…

Nothing done for His glory is ever wasted.

Where have you seen God’s fingerprints lately?

I’d love to hear your story. 🫆