Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs look like the smallest moments.
You've been watching. Waiting. Praying. And maybe, just maybe, you've started to notice something. A softened tone when faith comes up in conversation. A question about your church instead of an eye roll. A moment of quiet during grace instead of impatience.
They're not walking down the aisle yet. They're not asking for baptism. But something is different. Something is shifting.
And that something deserves to be celebrated.
God Works in Whispers
We live in a culture that celebrates the dramatic - the lightning bolt conversions, the radical life changes, the Damascus Road experiences. But the truth is, God often works in whispers, not earthquakes.
In 1 Kings 19:11-12, when Elijah was looking for God, "the Lord was not in the wind... the Lord was not in the earthquake... the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper."
Your loved one's journey to Jesus might not look like Paul's dramatic encounter on the road to Damascus. It might look more like gentle whispers - small moments of openness, tiny shifts in perspective, quiet questions that didn't exist before.
What Small Steps Actually Look Like
Maybe you've seen some of these and didn't even realize they were God at work:
They stopped changing the subject when you mention church or faith.
They asked a genuine question about something spiritual instead of dismissing it.
They showed interest in your peace during a difficult situation.
They didn't mock when you said you'd pray for someone.
They lingered when you were reading your Bible instead of walking away.
They softened their language about Christians or church in general.
They showed up to a family event where they knew there would be prayer.
These aren't coincidences. These are God-incidences. These are the Holy Spirit preparing soil, softening hearts, creating curiosity where there was once resistance.
Why Celebrating Matters
When you celebrate these small steps, you're doing something powerful:
You're recognizing God's faithfulness. Every small shift is evidence that He's working, even when the big breakthrough hasn't come yet.
You're building your own faith. Acknowledging His small movements helps you trust Him for the big ones.
You're staying hopeful. Celebration fuels perseverance. Joy gives you strength to keep praying.
You're partnering with the Holy Spirit. When you notice His work, you can pray more specifically and expectantly.
The Danger of Waiting for the Big Moment
Here's what happens when we only celebrate the final decision: we miss months or even years of God's faithful work. We overlook the beautiful process of a heart being prepared.
Think about your own salvation story. Were there small moments leading up to your decision? People who planted seeds? Circumstances that softened your heart? Questions that started forming before you even realized you were seeking?
Your loved one is likely in that same process right now. And every small step toward Jesus is worth celebrating, even if they don't realize that's what they're doing.
How to Celebrate Without Pressure
Celebrate in your prayers, not necessarily out loud. Thank God for the small movements you're seeing without making your loved one feel like a project.
Share your observations with other believers who are praying with you. Let them rejoice with you over the small victories.
Let it fuel your hope without creating pressure for bigger steps. Each small movement is complete in itself.
Use it as encouragement to keep loving them well, knowing that God is working.
A Prayer for Today
God, help me see the small ways You're working in their life. Give me eyes to notice the whispers, the gentle shifts, the tiny openings in their heart. Help me celebrate every small step as evidence of Your faithfulness. Keep me hopeful and expectant, knowing that You're preparing their heart in Your perfect timing. Thank You for every small movement toward You. Amen.
Keep Watching for the Whispers
Your faithful prayers and love haven't been in vain. God has been working, even when you couldn't see it. And He's going to keep working, one small step at a time.
Don't despise the small beginnings. Don't overlook the gentle shifts. Don't wait for the earthquake when God is speaking in whispers.
Every small step toward Jesus is a victory worth celebrating. And every celebration builds your faith for the breakthrough that's coming.
Sometimes the most powerful moments are the quietest ones. Keep watching. Keep celebrating. Keep believing.
