Joy peeked from behind the curtain out into the sea of faces. Two thousand wide-eyed teenagers looked to her for answers. Spiked hair, blue hair, nose rings, tattoos … whether out of rebellion or for personal expression, they all wanted to be different … but inside, they were all the same. Needy. Desperate. Just like she had been.
When she’d talked to him on the phone earlier that day, Ben Bradley had said, “Just tell it like you told the story to us that day in the prayer room. Do you remember what I said? I told you that you would go on to be a voice of hope to young people, that you would tell the story of good and evil in the battle raging over each one of them. Then I said they would believe you and hearts would turn to Christ. Today is the first fulfillment of that prophecy. Go out there and give it all you’ve got.”
Joy wiped her sweaty palms on her designer jeans. She sure had prepared for this. Public-speaking lessons, Bible training, a really good shopping trip. She was dressed to kill with a speech that would give life to those who heard it.
So said Ben.
“Father, open their eyes and ears to the truth. Let them hear You call to them from behind the enemy’s veil.” She shook the tension from her hands and arms then rotated her head in circles.
She flipped open her favorite Bible, the one her parents gave to her on Christmas, the year it all happened, to Psalm ninety-one and read, “‘Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for he shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways …’”
“Miss Christianson, it’s almost time.” The stagehand with the walkie-talkie helped her up the rickety back stairs until she was standing on the stage behind the curtain.
“And today,” the emcee rallied the crowd, “I have the distinct privilege to introduce our special guest. This young lady is only twenty-one years old and is recently engaged to the love of her life. She has experienced things that will chill you to your toes—but I’ll let her tell you about that. She’s a graduate of the Diamond Estates program and a Bible student. She also just released her first book, Feed the Good Wolf, about spiritual warfare. Let’s welcome Joy Christianson.”
Joy took a deep breath and parted the curtain. She stepped into the spotlight and lifted both arms, waving. When the applause died down, she stepped up to the mic. “We serve a mighty God. How many of you know that today?”
She stepped back and bathed in the cheers for her Savior. She nodded. No hurry at all.
When the crowd settled, she took the microphone again. “I’m glad to hear it. Now, let me tell you a story. It’s a story of hope in the midst of pain, and of life and light in the midst of death and darkness. And it’s a story of power. Great, great power. In living color, it changed my life, yes, but it almost ended my life … many times.” She let the words roll off her tongue and watched the effect vividly reflected in the eyes of those who truly listened.
“‘It is finished.’ That’s what Ben Bradley said the moment I turned my heart to Christ. And he was right.” Joy looked over the teenagers. “It can be finished for you. Right here, right now. One step. One act of faith in movement toward Jesus. That’s all it takes. Come.” She gestured to the altar space in front of her then stepped back and raised her hands up toward the ceiling, watching as teenagers from all walks of life streamed from their seats, tattoos and all, and raced to the feet of Jesus.
It is finished.