I’ve Never Shared this Before

I have never shared this story before, but it is important because it reveals a powerful, personal encounter I had where God met me here on earth. At times, I’ve hesitated to share it, even questioning its reality myself. Still, I realize that sharing it emphasizes how meaningful it is for me, my journey, and that God is real.

On April 21, 2025, I had my first branding photoshoot for my Mustard Seed Health & Healing brand, and everything came together so effortlessly. I still cannot begin to explain all the details that seamlessly fell into place from the outfits to the photographer having such a clear vision to me thinking through all the visuals and scenes I wanted to showcase. After a year and a half of thinking and building, I finally had such a clear vision of how I wanted to bring my brand to life.

I believe it was a result of prayer and trusting God’s guidance, everything came together at the right time, just as it was meant to.

The day before the photoshoot, I attended a church that leans more Pentecostal and is truly moved by the Holy Spirit. After the first service, Celina and I were sitting there waiting for the next service to begin. One of the girls Celina knew came over to say hi, but she walked straight up to me. And I want to be clear: she had no idea who I was. I had no idea who she was.

She said something along the lines of, "I just feel like there's a spotlight on you, and that there is teaching and writing on your life — that you would be with kids and teenage girls, helping and teaching them." I can't remember her exact words, but that was the main essence.

When I tell you I felt like it was God speaking directly to me… I was in absolute shock.

She prayed over me, with Celina also laying her hands on me. She spoke about teaching over my life, God seeing it, and my impact on the next generation. She touched on grief and God's presence and compassion in those moments, acknowledging that I show up for others but don't always feel that reciprocated—yet promised that, in eternity, we will reap the benefits. She highlighted the spotlight on me, making it feel as if no one else was present, just God and I. She assured me my heart's desires are not forgotten and prayed that the next year would bring joy and abundance. Lastly, she noted that, for me, faith is a relationship with Jesus rather than religion.

"Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." — Jeremiah 29:12–13

Even now, recalling and writing about this experience, I am deeply impacted by how clearly I felt God was speaking to me. This moment confirmed what I needed: reassurance that He knows and sees me. That is the key reason I hold on to this story.

We almost didn't attend that church, unaware of the two services and our early arrival. Yet, God spoke to me through this young woman, Grace.

God's timing. 

God's voice. 

God's provision. 

It's overwhelming.

I had never experienced a moment of prophecy like this, a stranger praying such specific, true, and soul-stirring things. It was unbelievable, but it happened, and I even have a witness.

I know prophecy is controversial, I am skeptical myself. I test what is said, knowing some people prophesy selfishly. Still, prophecy is a spiritual gift, and when used rightly, it is powerful.

"For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." — 2 Peter 1:21

Prophecy has been called a "miracle of knowledge, a description of something future, beyond the power of human wisdom to foresee, discern, or guess." I did not understand the true weight of prophecy and prayer until I moved to Austin. I began attending churches and being around people who pray big, powerful prayers. They call out sin and rebuke the devil. They believe that prayer is not a last resort when things get hard, but an everyday spiritual practice of walking and talking with God.

I am still overwhelmed by this encounter with God through another human. The very next day was my brand photoshoot, which went effortlessly, confirming what she had shared and what I believed God had placed on my heart: to go out and make disciples through the work He called me to.

I am so grateful for this moment, especially on difficult days. It serves as a reminder of God’s presence and encouragement. He met me right where I was and spoke to me directly. This is the heart of my story: assurance that God communicates, sees and cares.

He often speaks through people. We must have eyes to see His beauty, ears to hear His word, and hearts that trust Him.

A few weeks after I wrote everything above, something else happened and I knew I had to add it.

I was still in the Houston area, even though I had already been planning to head back to Austin. I was walking the aisles of Target pretty late in the evening when I noticed two young girls talking and giggling in my peripheral vision. After a moment, one of them approached me, you could tell she had worked up the nerve to do it.

She walked up and said, "Ma'am, hi. Can I pray for you?"

I was absolutely floored. She was younger than me. I told her yes, of course. I can't remember everything she prayed, but she asked God that I would continue to trust in Him, that if I had asked for a sign, that this would be it, and that I would feel seen. A bit more that I can't quite recall, but I stood there completely undone.

Afterward, I asked to pray for her and her sister. Then I asked how old she was.

Fourteen years old. A 14-year-old girl approached a stranger in Target because God had put it on her heart. She told me she had actually seen me earlier in the store but was scared and told herself that if she saw me again, she would do it. And she did, may we all have boldness when God calls us to something. 

I am still in shock when I think about it. I don't fully understand it, and I'm not sure I ever will. But I am so deeply grateful that God put me in that place, at that exact time, because He knew I needed it, after asking so many questions, being unsure of decisions and what to do. I barely made it out of Target before I started bawling my eyes out. Not just tears. Full-on weeping. I can’t even begin to describe how I felt. 

The God who sees — El Roi. 

Every time I think about these stories, I know how unbelievable they must sound. I know. But they happened. God works. He knows. He has everything planned, and we are simply called to trust Him even when things are hard, our minds are cloudy, when we wonder if we're even doing enough or in the right place. He shows up, maybe not in the way or timing we thought, but even more than we can imagine.

The God who sees, knows and cares.

If you've had a similar experience, a moment where you knew without a doubt it was God speaking straight to you — I'd love for you to share it in the comments. Your story might be exactly what someone else needs to hear.