Life of a christian

Riley woke up with a knot in his stomach. He knew what today meant—Carl was going to take him outside. He glanced at his Bible on the nightstand and took a deep breath before opening it. As always, the words brought him a sense of peace. Still, anxiety gnawed at him.

After breakfast, a firm knock echoed through the apartment.

"Let's go, kid," Carl called. "Gotta show you around."

Reluctantly, Riley grabbed his jacket and followed Carl outside. The moment he stepped onto the busy sidewalk, the city noise overwhelmed him. Honking cars, chatter, and distant sirens filled the air. He clenched his hands into fists, wishing he could disappear.

Carl led him to a small café. "This place has the best coffee. Ever tried one?"

Riley shook his head, barely able to process everything around him. He sat at a corner table while Carl ordered. The café was cozy, but Riley still felt out of place. He scanned the room, his eyes landing on a woman sitting by the window, her face buried in her hands.

Something about her caught his attention. She seemed distressed, whispering to herself. Riley shifted uncomfortably. Should he say something? What could he even say?

Carl returned with their drinks. Noticing Riley's distracted gaze, he followed his line of sight. "Something wrong?"

"That lady… she looks sad," Riley murmured.

Carl nodded. "Yeah, life's hard for some people. Sometimes, even a kind word can mean a lot."

Riley hesitated. Talking to strangers wasn't something he did. But he remembered Philippians 4:13. If God gave him strength, couldn't he at least try?

Summoning all his courage, he stood up and slowly walked over to the woman. His voice was barely above a whisper. "Um… excuse me, ma'am. Are you okay?"

She looked up, surprised. Her eyes were red and puffy. "Oh… I—I'm just having a hard day."

Riley swallowed his fear. "I don't know what you're going through… but I just wanted to say that you're not alone." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small card his parents had given him before he left—a simple Bible verse printed on it: 'Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' —Matthew 11:28.

The woman took the card, her lips trembling into a small smile. "Thank you… That means a lot."

Riley exhaled, feeling a strange sense of peace. It was just a small step, but it was a step forward. As he returned to Carl, he realized something important—maybe he didn't have to be fearless. Maybe, he just had to have faith.

The two of them finished their drinks and stepped back outside. Carl looked down at Riley with an approving nod. "Proud of you, kid."

Riley simply nodded, still processing what had just happened. The walk back home felt different. The city was still loud and overwhelming, but for the first time, it didn't seem so scary. He had taken his first step outside—and his first step toward something greater.

As they reached the apartment, Riley let out a small sigh of relief. "That was… exhausting."

Carl chuckled. "You did great. One step at a time."

Riley glanced at the Bible verse card still in his hand. One step at a time. Maybe this new journey wouldn't be so impossible after all.