Finding Lydia

Chapter 1: Unseen Beauty

Biblical Verse: Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight."

The early morning light filtered through the curtains of Lydia Matthews' small bedroom, casting a golden hue over the room's simple décor. A stack of books lay beside her bed, their pages dog-eared and highlighted in vibrant yellows and pinks, evidence of her many late-night reflections. She stretched and sat up slowly, feeling the weight of another day that wasn't hers to live. At 25, Lydia often felt trapped in the cocoon of her family's expectations, her wings still tucked away, invisible to everyone around her—perhaps even to herself.

Downstairs, the familiar clinking of dishes and the scent of freshly brewed coffee beckoned her into the world of her family. Lydia's mother, Claire Matthews, was already at the kitchen counter, rolling out dough for the bread she made every Friday morning, just like her mother before her. The kitchen was a well-worn place of tradition, full of routine and stability—everything Lydia felt she lacked.

"Morning, sweetheart," her mother said without looking up, her hands moving in practiced motions. "You've got the service tonight at church, right? Don't forget."

Lydia nodded, though her heart wasn't in it. The Wednesday night service was just one more event in a long line of obligations, one that made her feel even more out of place among her family's deep-rooted faith and commitment to their small church community.

"Yes, I'll be there," she said softly, pouring herself a cup of coffee. The warmth of the mug comforted her, but it couldn't chase away the familiar ache of feeling different.

Her siblings, Sarah and Andrew, were already seated at the table, discussing their upcoming plans—Sarah's engagement party and Andrew's new job at the family-owned business. Lydia loved them, but their lives seemed so clear, so planned out. Sarah was preparing for marriage, her dream ever since high school, and Andrew was set to take over their father's role in the local hardware store. It was a simple life, but it was enough for them. For Lydia, however, simplicity wasn't satisfying—it was suffocating.

"Lydia, you okay?" Sarah's voice broke through her thoughts, drawing Lydia back into the present.

She plastered on a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking."

"You're always thinking," Sarah teased lightly, but there was a hint of concern in her tone. "You know, Mom's right. It might be time to consider settling down. There's that new guy at church—David, wasn't it? I'm sure he'd love to take you out."

Lydia's smile tightened. It wasn't that she didn't want to get married someday. It was that she didn't want the same life everyone expected for her. She didn't dream of a white picket fence, a modest home in their quiet little town, or a life of routine. Her heart longed for more—more adventure, more purpose, more of the world God had created. But how could she explain that to her family without hurting them? How could she express that her dreams felt bigger than the borders of their small community?

"I'm not sure I'm ready for that," Lydia replied, her voice careful. "There's so much I want to do first."

Sarah raised an eyebrow, exchanging a look with their mother. "Like what, Lydia? You've never really told us what it is you want."

Lydia swallowed, feeling the familiar lump in her throat, the one that rose every time she tried to speak her truth. Could they even understand? Could anyone? Her family saw her quiet, reserved nature as uncertainty or passivity, but Lydia felt her silence was more about searching—searching for something she couldn't quite define yet.

"I want to write," Lydia finally said, her voice steady but soft. "I want to tell stories, maybe travel a bit, see more of the world. I just feel like there's something else I'm supposed to be doing."

Her mother paused, hands hovering over the dough. "Travel? Write? Lydia, honey, that sounds lovely, but you can't live in dreams. Life isn't about chasing after something vague. It's about being faithful where you are, with what God has given you."

Lydia nodded, biting her lip. She knew her mother meant well, but her words only deepened the chasm between Lydia and her family. The problem wasn't faith; Lydia had plenty of that. She prayed constantly, asking God for direction, for clarity. But the life her family valued—the one filled with familiar rhythms and routines—felt like a life meant for someone else. She longed for something more, something that felt like it was specifically for her.

After breakfast, Lydia retreated to her room. She sat at her desk, opening her journal to a fresh page. Writing was the one place where her thoughts felt free, unburdened by expectations. The blank page stared back at her, an invitation to pour out the feelings she couldn't voice out loud.

"Dear God," she began, "I don't know what You want me to do, and I don't know if I'm on the right path. My family thinks I should settle down, follow the life they've laid out for me. But I can't shake this feeling that You have something different in mind. I trust You, but I feel lost. Please show me the way—give me the courage to be who You made me to be, even if it's not what everyone else expects."

She closed the journal, her heart heavy but hopeful. Deep down, Lydia believed that God had a plan for her, one that went beyond what she could see. But believing was one thing. Living it out, especially when no one else seemed to understand, was another.

That evening, Lydia sat at church with her family, listening to the familiar hymns, her thoughts still swirling with uncertainty. As the sermon began, she found herself distracted, her eyes drifting to the stained-glass windows where the light from the setting sun poured in. The colors danced across the pews, reminding her that even in the midst of routine and tradition, beauty could be found in the unexpected.

Maybe she was a little like those rays of light—meant to shine, even if her place in this world didn't fit neatly into the patterns laid out for her. And maybe, just maybe, God was preparing her for something beautiful. Something no one else could yet see.