Faithful Horizons

Chapter 18: Grace's Confusion

The smell of freshly baked cookies filled Grace's kitchen as she leaned against the counter, watching her mom pull a tray from the oven. Normally, the warm scent of cinnamon and chocolate would've been enough to lift her spirits, but tonight, it barely registered.

"You've been quiet," Diana said, glancing at her over her shoulder. "Something on your mind?"

Grace hesitated, tracing a circle on the countertop with her finger. "It's Ethan. His mom's back in the hospital."

Diana set the tray on a cooling rack, her expression softening. "I did hear about that. How's he holding up?"

"Not well," Grace admitted. "He's angry and scared, and I don't blame him. But..." She trailed off, struggling to put her thoughts into words.

"But what?" Diana prompted gently.

Grace sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I just feel so... helpless. Like nothing I say or do is enough. He's going through so much, and I want to be there for him, but I don't know how."

Diana walked over, resting a hand on Grace's shoulder. "Sometimes just being there is enough. You don't have to have all the answers, sweetheart."

Grace nodded, though a knot in her chest didn't unravel. "I know. But it's not just that. I care about him, Mom. More than I thought I would."

Diana's eyes softened, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. "Sounds like someone's got it bad."

"Mom," Grace groaned, covering her face with her hands.

"What?" Diana said, laughing lightly. "It's not a bad thing, Grace. You're allowed to care about someone. You're allowed to fall for someone. Just... be careful, okay?"

"Careful?" Grace asked, lowering her hands.

"Ethan's in a fragile place right now," Diana said. "If you're not careful, you could end up hurting each other without meaning to."

Grace nodded slowly, her mom's words settling uncomfortably in her chest.

Later that evening, Grace sat cross-legged on her bed, her Bible open in front of her and her journal resting beside it. She flipped through the familiar pages, her eyes skimming over verses she'd highlighted in bright yellow ink.

One verse caught her attention:

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." - 1 Peter 5:7

Grace closed her eyes, her heart heavy with unspoken prayers.

"God," she whispered. "I don't know what I'm doing. I care about Ethan so much, but I'm scared. Scared of pushing him too hard. Scared of losing him. Please... show me what to do. Help me be the person he needs right now."

The silence that followed felt both comforting and suffocating. She opened her eyes and scribbled a few lines in her journal:

"I want to help him. But what if I'm not enough?"

The next day, Grace decided to talk to someone who might understand.

"Thanks for meeting me in such short notice," she said as she slid into the booth across from her youth pastor, Sarah. The café was quiet, the soft hum of conversation blending with the smell of brewing coffee.

"Of course," Sarah said, smiling warmly. "What's on your mind?"

Grace paused, stirring her latte with a spoon. "It's about Ethan."

Sarah raised an eyebrow, leaning forward slightly. "Go on."

Grace let out a breath, her hands tightening around the mug. "He's been going through so much lately. His mom's sick, and I can tell it's tearing him apart. I want to help him, but... I don't know how. And it's more than that. I-" She stopped, heat rising to her cheeks.

"You have feelings for him," Sarah finished gently.

Grace nodded, her eyes dropping to the table. "Yeah. And I don't know if that's a good thing or not."

Sarah smiled, her expression understanding. "It's not bad to care about someone, Grace. It's natural. But it's also important to make sure your relationship is rooted in the right things - especially with someone who's struggling like Ethan is."

"That's what I'm worried about," Grace admitted. "I don't want to push him too hard, but I also don't want to just stand back and watch him spiral. How do I find the balance?"

Sarah leaned back in her chair, tilting her head thoughtfully. "The first thing you need to remember is that you're not responsible for fixing him. That's not your job - it's God's. All you can do is be there for him, love him, and trust that God is working in his heart, even if you can't see it right now."

Grace nodded slowly, her heart aching with both relief and uncertainty. "But what if he doesn't want me there? What if I just make things worse?"

Sarah reached across the table, resting a hand on Grace's. "You don't have to have all the answers, Grace. Just keep being who you are. Keep loving him the way God's called you to love. And trust that whatever happens, God's plan is bigger than anything you or Ethan could imagine."

That evening, Grace sat on the porch outside her house, the cool breeze brushing against her skin. Her journal rested on her lap, the pages fluttering slightly in the wind.

She wrote slowly, her pen moving with deliberate care:

"God, I don't know what Ethan needs right now, but I know you do. Please help me love him in a way that points him to you, not just me. And please, give him the strength to keep going."

She closed the journal, her heart a little lighter than it had been the night before.

For now, she would trust.

A/N:

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