Faithful Horizons

Chapter 32: Grace's Perspective

Grace leaned against the counter in her kitchen, her phone balanced in her hand as she stared at the text Ethan had sent earlier:

Ethan: You always know what to say. Thanks for listening tonight.

Her heart warmed at the words, but they also carried a weight she couldn't quite shake. She loved being there for Ethan, watching him grow into his faith, but there were moments when she wondered if she was enough.

Not enough for him - she didn't doubt his feelings for her. But enough for God.

She placed the phone on the counter and walked to the window, peering out at the quiet street. Ethan had been through so much, and his resilience inspired her every day. But sometimes it felt like he relied on her more than he realized.

And sometimes, she relied on him more than she was willing to admit.

Later that morning, Grace sat on a bench outside the church, her Bible open on her lap. The spring breeze rustled the pages, but her eyes stayed fixed on the passage in front of her:

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." - 2 Corinthians 12:9

She traced the words with her finger, her heart tugging at the reminder. She didn't have to have it all together. God's strength would cover her when she fell short.

But why, then, did she feel so much pressure to be strong? For Ethan, for her family, for everyone who looked at her as if she had all the answers?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps. She looked up to see her mom approaching, a gentle smile on her face.

"Hey, sweetie," her mom said, sitting beside her. "You look deep in thought."

Grace smiled faintly, closing her Bible. "Just trying to make sense of some things."

Her mom tilted her head. "Want to talk about it?"

Grace hesitated. "I guess I've just been feeling... overwhelmed lately. Ethan's been leaning on me a lot, and I love being there for him, but I keep wondering if I'm doing enough. Or if I'm doing it right."

Diana's expression softened. "You've always had such a big heart, Grace. But you need to remember that you're not carrying this on your own. God is the one doing the real work in Ethan's life - not you."

"I know," Grace said, her voice quiet. "But it's hard not to feel responsible sometimes. He's come so far, but he still has a lot of questions. And what if I say the wrong thing? What if I push him in the wrong direction without even realizing it?"

Diana reached out, placing a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "You're doing exactly what you're called to do - loving him, supporting him, and pointing him toward God. But Grace, you're not his savior. You can't fix everything for him. And you're not supposed to."

The words hit Grace like a wave, both comforting and convicting.

"Thank you," she said softly. "I needed to hear that."

Diana smiled. "Anytime. And remember, it's okay to lean on God for strength too. You don't have to carry everything on your own."

That evening, Grace sat cross-legged on her bedroom floor, her journal open in front of her.

She stared at the blank page for a moment before finally picking up her pen and writing:

"Lord, thank You for bringing Ethan into my life. Watching him grow has been such a gift, but I'm scared. Scared of failing him, scared of leading him wrong, scared that I was not enough for what he needs. Please remind me that it's not about me - that it's about You. Help me trust You with his heart, and help me trust You with mine too."

Her hand stilled as the words settled on the page. She let out a slow breath, her chest feeling a little lighter.

The next day, Grace met Ethan at the park. They walked along the winding path, the trees overhead swaying gently in the warm breeze.

"You've been quiet," Ethan said, glancing at her. "Everything okay?"

Grace nodded, her lips curving into a small smile. "Yeah. Just thinking about some things."

"Like what?"

She paused for a moment, then said, "How much you've grown. And how proud I am of you."

Ethan's cheeks flushed, and he looked down, kicking a loose rock along the path. "I wouldn't have made it this far without you, Grace."

"That's not true," she said gently. "You're the one doing the hard work, Ethan. God's the one guiding you. I'm just along for the ride."

Ethan stopped walking, turning to face her. "You're more than that, Grace. You've been my anchor. My constant. I don't know where I'd be without you."

Her heart swelled at his words, but she also felt the weight of them.

"You don't have to depend on me so much," she said softly. "You've got God, Ethan. He's never going to let you down, even when I do."

Ethan frowned slightly. "You've never let me down."

"Not yet," Grace said, her voice a mere whisper. "But I'm not perfect. And I don't want you to think I have to be. That's not fair to you - or to me."

Ethan was quiet for a moment, his gaze searching hers. Finally, he nodded. "I get it. I don't want to put that kind of pressure on you."

Grace smiled, relief washing over her. "Thank you."

They started walking again, the silence between them comfortable now. Grace glanced at him, her heart full of gratitude.

She didn't have all the answers. She didn't have to.

Because they weren't walking this narrow path alone.

A/N:

Want more? Make sure to vote, comment, and follow so you don't miss any updates! I appreciate every bit of support!