Riley sat cross-legged on the end of the jetty, watching the water ripple under the orange glow of the sunset. She pulled the sleeves of her hoodie over her hands and let out a nervous laugh.
“I’ve been trying to figure out how to say this all week,” she admitted.
Beside her, Ava nodded gently. “You know you can tell me anything.”
Riley looked down at the small Bible resting in her lap. The corners were bent from weeks of reading it late at night under her blankets.
“I want to be a Christian.” Riley said.
Ava’s eyes widened before a huge smile spread across her face. “Really?”
Riley nodded, emotion catching in her throat. “Watching you these past few months changed something in me. Like… everything hasn’t exactly been easy for you, but you still trust God anyway. You still have peace.” She glanced over at her friend. “I’ve never met anyone like that before.”
Ava looked down shyly. “That peace isn’t me. It’s God.”
“I know,” Riley whispered. “And whenever I’m around you, I feel it too. Like my mind finally goes quiet for once.”
The breeze stirred around them.
“But my family hates the idea,” Riley admitted after a moment. “They think I’m being dramatic or brainwashed or something.” She swallowed hard. “At first I wanted to argue back and prove them wrong, but… I don’t think that’s what God wants.”
Ava nodded slowly. “Probably not.”
“So I’m not going to fight them,” Riley continued. “I’m going to pray for them instead. And my aunt said I can stay with her for if things get to hard. She doesn’t really care what I believe, but at least there’ll be peace.”
For a moment neither of them spoke.
Then Ava reached over and hugged her friend.
“I’m really proud of you. Sometimes choosing God can be difficult, especially when others don’t understand. But Jesus never promised we would walk alone. He gives peace, wisdom, and strength for every step. Like it says in Isaiah 26:3 -You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”
Riley blinked quickly, trying not to cry. “I’m scared though.”
“That’s okay,” Ava said. “Following God doesn’t mean you never feel scared. It just means you’re not facing it alone anymore.”
Riley smiled, looking out at the water again.
“For the first time in ages,” she said, “I actually feel a deep peace and a hope in my heart.”
PICTURE CREDIT- Free Pexel Images
