Chapter 13: Encouraging the Fearful
The soft hum of a hospital filled the air, a mixture of distant footsteps, beeping monitors, and the hushed murmur of visitors coming and going. Steph, Mario, and Gary walked down the sterile hallways, their footsteps echoing faintly against the white linoleum floor. Their group had grown since the desert of deception, but today, it was just the core trio, on a more personal mission.
Ahead of them, a woman sat hunched over in one of the waiting chairs, wringing her hands anxiously. Her eyes darted around the room, avoiding contact with anyone, and her breathing came in shallow bursts as though fear itself had taken hold of her chest.
“That’s her,” said Gary softly, pointing toward the woman. He had heard about her situation from one of the nurses when they arrived.
“Her name’s Evelyn. She’s got surgery scheduled for tomorrow. I think she’s terrified.”
Steph nodded, adjusting her guitar strap on her shoulder.
“I can feel it,” she said, her voice gentle. “There’s a lot of fear inside her.”
Mario looked over at Steph.
“Do you think you can help her? I mean, it’s gotta be tough, facing something like that.”
Steph smiled softly.
“I know I can help, but it’s not me it's God working through me. I just need to remind her that she doesn’t have to face it alone.”
With that, she walked over to Evelyn, her guitar resting against her side. The woman didn’t notice her at first, too caught up in her own swirling thoughts, but when Steph spoke, it was with the same calm and warmth that had touched so many lives on their journey.
“Hi there,” Steph said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Is this seat taken?”
Evelyn looked up, startled, her wide eyes meeting Steph’s. “Oh, no... no, it’s not.”
Steph sat down beside her, resting her guitar across her lap.
“My name’s Steph. I couldn’t help but notice that you seem a little anxious. Are you okay?”
Evelyn tried to smile, but it faltered, revealing the truth behind her forced expression.
“I’m fine, really. It’s just... I’ve got surgery tomorrow, and I...” Her voice cracked, and she quickly looked away, blinking back tears.
“It’s okay to be scared,” Steph said softly. “What’s the surgery for, if you don’t mind me asking?”
Evelyn hesitated for a moment before answering, her hands still trembling in her lap. “It’s... it’s for my heart. They said I have to have a valve replaced. It’s risky, and there’s no guarantee I’ll make it through.” She paused, swallowing hard. “I can’t stop thinking about everything that could go wrong. What if something happens to me? What if I don’t wake up? I’ve got kids at home... and...”
Her voice trailed off, her anxiety choking her words. Steph placed a comforting hand on Evelyn’s arm, her touch warm and steady.
“I know it feels like everything is out of your control right now,” Steph said, “and that fear has a way of making everything seem so much worse. But you don’t have to carry all of that fear by yourself.”
Evelyn looked at her, her brow furrowed in confusion.
“What do you mean?”
Steph shifted her guitar in her lap, the familiar weight of it grounding her.
“I’ve faced a lot of uncertainty in my own life,” she began, her voice quiet but sure. “There’s been more than one time where I didn’t know what was going to happen next or if I’d make it through the day. But the one thing that’s always given me strength is knowing that I’m not alone. God’s been with me every step of the way.”
Evelyn’s expression softened slightly, but doubt still clouded her eyes. “But what if... what if He doesn’t hear me? What if... I don’t make it?”
Steph gave her a gentle smile, then reached into her pocket and pulled out a small Bible. She flipped to Philippians, her favorite passage for moments like these, and handed it to Evelyn.
“Read this,” Steph said, her voice filled with calm reassurance. “Philippians 4:6-7. It says, ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’”
Evelyn took the Bible with trembling hands, her eyes scanning the words as though searching for something to cling to. After a moment, she looked up, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
“I’ve been praying,” she whispered. “But I still feel so scared. I don’t feel that peace.”
Steph smiled softly.
“Sometimes, when we’re overwhelmed by fear, it’s hard to hear God’s voice through all the noise in our hearts. But He’s still there. He’s always there, waiting to give us that peace. And sometimes, it helps to hear it in a different way.”
Evelyn looked at her, a question forming on her lips.
“What do you mean?”
Steph gently adjusted her guitar, the soft strumming of the strings filling the hospital waiting room with a soothing melody. The sound seemed to wrap around them, creating a cocoon of warmth and peace.
“I’d like to sing something for you,” Steph said, her fingers moving effortlessly over the strings.
“A song that I believe can help remind you that you’re not alone in this.”
Evelyn nodded, her eyes locked on Steph, her fear still present but tempered by curiosity.
Steph closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath, and then she began to sing.
Song of Comfort:
When the night is long, and the way feels dark,
And your heart is weighed down by fear,
Know that there’s a love that holds you close,
And He’s always, always near.
Don’t be anxious, don’t be afraid,
For in His hands, you are safe.
Through every trial, through every tear,
He’s with you now, He’s always here.
Trust in the peace that He will bring,
A peace that flows like a gentle stream.
Though the road ahead may seem unknown,
You’ll never face it on your own.
As Steph’s voice filled the room, the melody soft and calming, something began to change in Evelyn’s expression. The lines of worry that had etched themselves into her face began to soften, and her shoulders, tense and hunched, slowly began to relax.
Tears spilled down Evelyn’s cheeks, but this time, they weren’t just from fear. There was something else—something softer and more hopeful.
When the song ended, the room was still, the air filled with a sense of quiet peace. Steph let the final notes linger before resting her hands in her lap, watching Evelyn carefully.
Evelyn wiped at her eyes, her voice shaking as she spoke.
“I... I don’t know how to explain it, but... I feel calmer now. It’s like the fear is still there, but it’s not... overwhelming me anymore.”
Steph smiled, her heart swelling with gratitude.
“That’s God’s peace,” she said softly. “It’s not about making the fear disappear entirely, but about knowing that even in the fear, you’re held by something stronger.”
Evelyn let out a shaky breath, nodding.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“I think... I think I can do this now. I can trust that whatever happens, it’s in God’s hands.”
Steph reached out and squeezed her hand gently.
“You’re going to be okay. Just keep trusting Him.”
Evelyn nodded again, her grip tightening slightly around Steph’s hand.
“Thank you,” she repeated, her voice steadier now. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”
“You don’t have to face this alone,” Steph said, smiling warmly.
“And we’ll be praying for you.”
With that, Steph stood, Mario and Gary stepping forward to join her as they prepared to leave. But as they turned to go, Evelyn’s voice stopped them.
“Wait,” she called, her voice stronger than before.
“Can I... Can I come with you? After the surgery, I mean. I want to help. I want to share the peace you’ve shown me with others.”
Steph smiled, her heart full. “We’d love that, Evelyn. We’ll be waiting for you.”
And with that, they left the hospital, knowing that another soul had found hope in the face of fear, and that their mission to bring light into the darkest places was far from over.