The door clicked shut behind you with a finality that echoed louder than it should have. The room was dim, the only light a soft orange glow from the lamp in the corner. You tossed your bag onto the floor and collapsed onto the edge of the bed, burying your face in your hands.

It had been one of those days—draining, frustrating, endless. The kind of day that leaves your soul aching more than your body. Words unspoken, efforts unnoticed, a heart heavy with battles no one saw.

You sat there in silence, willing yourself not to cry. The silence wrapped around you, thick and stifling. You wanted comfort, but didn’t know what to ask for—or who to ask.

Then, you felt it.

A presence.

You lifted your head slowly, and there He was.

Standing just a few feet away. A man of quiet strength and impossible peace. Olive-brown skin kissed by the sun, a white robe flowing gently around Him, accented by a deep red sash. His eyes—warm, brown, and ancient—met yours with a tenderness.

The faint shimmer of the holes marked His hands and feet, glowing subtly in the low light.

“My beloved child, do not be afraid,” He said softly, stepping closer. “I see the weight you carry, the quiet struggles no one else knows, the questions that stir in your heart. You are not alone—I am with you, even now.”

He sat beside you, the bed dipping just slightly under His weight. His hand rested gently on yours—strong. The warmth of His touch spread through you like a sunrise breaking through fog.

“When the road feels uncertain, I will guide your steps. When your spirit grows tired, I will be your strength,” He continued. “I do not ask you to walk in perfection, only to walk with Me. My love does not waver with your doubts or mistakes. It is steadfast, patient, and kind—just like I am with you.”

His words weren’t just heard—they were felt, deep in your chest, like they’d always been there, waiting to be remembered.

Jesus smiled—soft, knowing, without a trace of disappointment. “Rest in the truth that you are deeply known and wholly loved. I have called you by name, and nothing—not fear, not failure, not even the darkest valley—can separate you from My love.”

He extended His hand toward you, palm up, the familiar hole shining like a badge of eternal mercy.

“Take My hand, and let your heart be still. I am your Shepherd. I go before you. I walk beside you. I dwell within you. Peace I leave with you—My peace, not as the world gives, but as only I can give.”

You placed your hand in His, and the stillness that followed wasn’t empty—it was holy.

His words fell like a lullaby over your soul:

“Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. You are Mine, now and forever.”