Stories of God’s Presence, Power, and Nearness
There have been moments in my life when Heaven felt closer than I ever thought possible. Faith Encounters cover moments when the veil between the seen and unseen seemed thin, when pain and peace collided, and when sorrow was met with the unmistakable presence of God.
These were not moments I planned, earned, or even fully understood at the time. There were moments when God simply showed up gently, powerfully, and faithfully exactly where I was.
Faith Encounters is a collection of those moments.
This is not written from a place of perfection or spiritual arrival. It is written from the middle. The middle of life, the middle of questions, the middle of struggle, healing, obedience, doubt, courage, and surrender.
It is a deeply personal collection of true stories that reflect how Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit have met me throughout my journey, often in ways I did not expect and sometimes when I felt least deserving.
These encounters did not always happen in churches or during worship services. Many of them occurred in ordinary places in moments of grief, fear, exhaustion, confusion, and quiet longing. Some happened during seasons of obedience. Others came during seasons when my faith felt thin and my heart felt tired.
Yet in every season, God proved Himself faithful, present, and unchanging.
Faith Encounters is ultimately about relationship, not religion.
It is about a God Who still speaks, still heals, still comforts, still corrects, still protects, and still draws near. A God Who meets His children where they are, not where they “should be.” A God Who is not intimidated by our mess, our questions, or our wounds. A God Who is holy and powerful, yet tender and personal.
Throughout, you will find stories of:
-
God’s presence in moments of deep pain
-
Spiritual encounters that brought clarity, warning, or peace
-
Times when faith is tested and moments when it is strengthened
-
Experiences of God’s protection and guidance
-
Quiet reminders telling me I was not alone
-
Encounters that shaped my understanding of who God is and who I am in Him
These stories are not meant to elevate me. They are intended to point to God’s faithfulness.
My prayer is that as you read these encounters, you begin to recognize echoes of your own story. Perhaps you’ve had moments you couldn’t explain. Moments when God felt close, or when something shifted in your spirit, or when you knew, without knowing how, that God was present. Maybe you brushed those moments aside. Maybe you questioned them. Maybe you wondered if they were real.
This is written to gently remind you: you are not alone, and you are not imagining God’s nearness.
Faith Encounters is for those who long for reassurance that God is still active today. It is for those who have been wounded by life or disillusioned by religion but still hunger for something real. It is for believers who have walked with God for years and for those who are just beginning to ask questions. It is for anyone who needs to know that God has not gone silent — even when circumstances feel overwhelming.
Faith Encounters Is Also An Invitation
An invitation to slow down and reflect.
An invitation to listen again.
An invitation to remember moments when God has already met you.
You do not need a dramatic testimony to belong here. Sometimes the most powerful encounters with God happen quietly, without fanfare, without witnesses, without explanation. Sometimes they happen in the smallest moments — when no one else sees, but God does.
As you read, I encourage you to pause and ask yourself:
-
Where has God met me before?
-
What moments have I dismissed or forgotten?
-
Where might God be speaking or moving right now?
My hope is not that you compare your story to mine, but that you begin to recognize God’s fingerprints in your own life.
✨ COMING SOON
In many ways, Faith Encounters is a companion to a larger story still unfolding.
Coming soon is my memoir,
The Girl from Moon Mountain: A Faith-Filled Memoir of Survival, Protection, and God’s Relentless Presence.
This upcoming book traces my life across decades, from a childhood shaped by hardship and divine protection, through womanhood marked by perseverance, loss, rebuilding, and faith refined by fire. It is not just a story of where I came from but of how God stayed through every season, every turning point, and every chapter of my life.
The Girl from Moon Mountain is raw, honest, and deeply personal.
It tells the story of survival without glorifying pain and of faith without pretending it was easy. It is a testimony of God’s presence, not only in moments of healing, but also in moments of warning, endurance, and quiet preservation when no one else saw.
Where Faith Encounters captures specific moments when Heaven felt close, The Girl from Moon Mountain tells the long road in between the lived journey of being carried by God’s faithfulness over a lifetime.
Together, these stories speak to the same truth:
God was there. God is here. And He has never left.
Scripture reminds us:
“Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, and offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for our God is indeed a consuming fire.”
— Hebrews 12:28 (Amplified)
This verse anchors the heart of Faith Encounters. God is holy. God is powerful. God is unshakable. And yet, He chooses to draw near to us to meet us personally, lovingly, and intentionally.
Faith Encounters is written with reverence for who God is, but also with deep gratitude for how He meets His people. It honors the mystery of faith without turning it into a spectacle. It acknowledges God’s power while emphasizing His closeness.
Above all, this book exists to offer hope.
Hope that God still moves.
Hope that healing is possible.
Hope that faith can grow even after hardship.
Hope that God is not distant, detached, or disinterested in your life.
If this helps you feel seen…
If it reminds you that God is near…
If it encourages you to trust Him a little more deeply…
Then it has fulfilled its purpose.
Written by Bobbi Raffin,
Christian author, virtual assistant, and founder of The Hopepreneur, devoted to helping others recognize God’s presence, rediscover hope, and walk forward in faith with confidence and truth.
