Answers

Posted On February 11, 2024

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

Jeremiah 29:13 ESV

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Hebrews 4:16 NIV

Have you ever struggled with unanswered questions? If so, you are not alone. Sometimes it may feel like God’s not listening, especially when the answers are slow in coming. But we can rest assured that He hears us, and He cares about what’s on our hearts. The trick, I think, is to worry less about looking for answers and focus more on looking for God. At times, this is easier said than done. Believe me, I know! But God promises that when we seek Him, we will find Him. And we can trust Him to provide all the answers we need.

Our plan for 2024 is a new format that blends an ongoing fiction story with a devotional each week. Our current story is a science fiction tale I’ve named Awakening. It’s a story about faith, with a focus on the core beliefs of Christianity. This week, our adventure continues with Chapter 4. The doctrinal focus is God the Father and God’s Word. (Click here for Quick Links to previous chapters.) As a reminder, I am using colored boxes to set the story apart from the rest of the post. So, any text that has a colored background is part of the fictional story. And any text that does not, is not. The video below gives a short recap of the story so far. I hope you enjoy Awakening!

Awakening
Chapter 4: Answers

Notes from Christian Doctrines Course
ICMC Training – Week 4
28 January 2318

“Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.'”
-Matthew 6:9 ESV

“When Jesus taught His disciples to pray in what we call ‘the Lord’s Prayer,’ He emphasized the importance of contemplating God’s holiness … Before we start listing our requests and pouring out our troubles to the Lord in prayer, we ought to focus our full attention on God and His holiness, offering Him our heartfelt praise and adoration. When we reach a mindset of proper reverence, we can ‘draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need’ (Heb. 4:16).”
-Robert Jeffress

The Lord’s Prayer reminds us to focus first on God. We do this through worship, praise, gratitude, and an awareness of God’s holiness. As we learn to quiet our anxious thoughts and set our minds on things above, we prepare ourselves to receive the help He stands ready to offer. God leads us in many ways, and He will take responsibility for showing us what to do.

“Faith, this is Peter.”

Faith smiled. Well, I guess that answers that question! she thought as she sent up a quick prayer of gratitude. Who is Peter? had been one of the still burning questions on her mind as she walked through the forest with Michael. The sound of footsteps approaching had startled her out of her restless thoughts. And then Michael’s introduction of his friend felt like a gentle reprimand from God reminding her to stop worrying so much. She had gotten the message.

“It’s nice to meet you,” she said as she extended her hand to shake his. Peter was older than she was, but younger than Michael. He appeared to be in his mid-forties, and he wore his hair in a closely cropped military style. But the most dominant feature she noticed about him was his eyes. They were dark brown and full of warmth. Unlike Michael’s gray eyes that seemed to hide many secrets, Peter’s eyes were expressive and welcoming. She saw kindness as well as sadness in them, as though he carried a deep hurt that would never go away. The overall effect gave Peter an air of wisdom, strength, and gentleness. She felt comfortable with him immediately.

“Peter’s a good friend. You can trust him,” Michael said, reinforcing her impressions. “I asked him to join us here today so that you two could finally meet. He’s been watching over the both of us ever since we arrived on Nova.”

“God has been watching over all of us,” Peter amended.

“How are things in Helios?” Michael asked him.

“Getting worse, I’m afraid,” Peter answered. “I just finished a run to Gen City, and tensions are growing there as well.” Then turning to Faith, he added, “But seeing you awake restores my hope! I’m not sure how much Michael has told you, but I believe you will play a vital role in the future of this world. However, it’s safer if we keep you hidden for now.” He turned back to Michael. “We should probably continue this conversation somewhere less exposed.”

“I agree,” said Michael. “Let’s head back inside where we can talk.”

Peter nodded, and the three of them turned back the way Michael and Faith had come, toward the cave which concealed their ship. They walked in silence, and as she reflected on the morning’s events, everything Peter just said, and the beauty surrounding her, Faith was overcome with a sense of wondrous peace. She still had plenty of questions. She knew she probably always would, but God had just reminded her very clearly that she could trust Him to provide the answers.

Michael, Peter, and Faith returned to the ship, and Michael prepared a pot of coffee. As she and Peter sat down together at the table which served as both workspace and dining space, Michael poured cups for each of them. “Cream and sugar, Peter?” he asked.

“Just black, thanks,” Peter answered.

Expecting Michael to address her next, Faith was surprised when he set a mug in front of her already prepared the way she likes it — cream, no sugar. She didn’t remember ever telling him how she takes her coffee. But then again, she didn’t remember much at all these days. Finally feeling the effects of her lack of sleep the night before, Faith decided not to question it and gratefully sipped from the mug.

Michael poured a cup of black coffee for himself and sat down with them at the table. Looking as tired as she felt, he also sipped from his mug before speaking. “So, Faith, I know you must still have a lot of questions. I’m not sure if we can answer all of them right now, but I think it’s time to explain a few things. First of all, I need to let you know that I will be leaving for a few days, and I’ve asked Peter to keep an eye on you while I’m gone.”

Faith’s surprise must have shown on her face, because Peter spoke up reassuringly. “It’s okay. I’ve watched over you many times before. You just don’t remember because you were still asleep.”

Many times before? “How long was I in cryostasis?” she asked aloud.

Peter glanced at Michael before answering. “Thirteen years in transit from Earth to Nova, and …” Peter hesitated. He looked at Michael again. Michael nodded and Peter continued, “another seven years after you arrived.”

Twenty years? She felt the room start to spin. She knew from researching her notes that, depending on their orbits, total travel time from Earth to Nova could be anywhere from eleven to fifteen years, but why wasn’t she awakened immediately once she arrived? Michael answered the question before she had a chance to ask.

“There was a problem with the computer system in the ship after we arrived. It affected several systems, including navigation and the cryogenic controls. We were forced to make an emergency landing. Once the ship was safely down, I tried to awaken you, but I couldn’t. Nothing I did worked. Your vitals were still strong. You just wouldn’t wake up. So Peter and I hid the ship in the cave, and we’ve both been watching over you ever since.”

Faith tried to process this information. Twenty years. It would explain her memory loss. Twenty years was a long time to be in cryostasis. “How did you finally wake me?” she asked.

“I didn’t,” Michael answered. “You just woke up on your own. I can’t explain it.”

A verse from Psalm 31 suddenly came to her mind. My times are in Your hands, she thought. Then she considered another question. “You said you and Peter hid the ship. Did he travel here with us?” She knew the ship was designed for three.

A look passed between Michael and Peter before Michael answered. “No. It was just the two of us. Our departure was … a little sudden. I told you before that your dream of the explosion of the ICMC ships was a memory of a vision you had weeks before it happened. You also had a dream warning you to leave Earth several months before you were scheduled to — a warning you heeded. I’m not the only one you shared all of this with. So, our early departure looked very suspicious, especially when the wormhole collapsed shortly after we arrived in the Helios system. By the time we neared Nova, our names were known by everyone. That’s why we had to change them. Faith, we are considered terrorists. We were blamed for all of it.”

What?! Faith was stunned. She had no idea how to process all of this. Michael seemed to be waiting to give her a chance to respond, but she didn’t know what to say. She just sat wide-eyed and waited for him to continue.

“Thankfully, our computer problems worked to our advantage, and we were able to make it appear as though our ship burned up when trying to enter Nova’s atmosphere. Peter found us shortly after we landed. He’s the only one who knows who we really are.”

“God led me to you,” Peter added. “He told me to help you.”

Faith could tell there was more to that story, but she didn’t know how much more information she could absorb right now. She felt tired, shaky, and completely overwhelmed. She took another sip from her mug and then clutched it with both hands. She let the warmth seep into her icy fingers and tried to recapture the sense of peace she had felt earlier. She was beginning to understand why Michael had been hesitant to share too much at once. It was a lot to take in. At the moment she just wanted to go crawl into bed and hide for a while. But, remembering what Michael had said earlier, she realized she had to ask one more question: “You said you’re leaving for a few days?”

“Yes, I’m sorry, but I have to. Peter and I work as shuttle pilots between the colonies. This job makes it easy for each of us to stop here and check on you between runs, but we can’t stay too long or it may start to look suspicious. Peter has been covering for me the past few days, but I need to get back out there before anyone misses me. I will be leaving in a few hours.”

Faith nodded. Well, I wanted answers, she thought wryly. She was beginning to be sorry she had ever asked any questions. Maybe when her memories came back, everything would begin to make more sense, but right now she was emotionally exhausted.

Peter, seeming to sense her mood, said, “Faith, I don’t want you to worry. I know this is a lot to comprehend, but I know God has a plan for all of us. And He is watching over us to make sure it will be accomplished. I can see that you are tired. Why don’t you rest and we can talk more later. As Michael said, I am a friend, and I will be here for you while he is away.”

She smiled gratefully. “I do think I could use some rest and some time to process all of this,” she said as she rose from her chair.

Michael and Peter stood as well. “I should probably get a couple hours sleep myself before heading out,” Michael said.

“Yes, and I need to get back to my ship,” Peter added. “But I will be back tomorrow.”

The three of them cleared the coffee cups from the table and carried them to the sink before preparing to go their separate ways. Peter turned toward her and Michael and placed a hand on each of their shoulders. “God be with you, my friends,” he said.

“And with you,” Michael answered, repeating the gesture.

As she stood there with Peter’s hand on one shoulder and Michael’s hand on the other, she felt her sense of peace beginning to return. “Thank you,” she said as she reached up and gently grasped their arms. “I appreciate all you’ve done for me. Both of you.” They smiled at her, and she knew that somehow everything would be okay. She could trust these men. She felt it in her gut.

Faith went back to her room and got a few hours sleep. She awoke to the sound of soft knocking on her door. She went to the door and opened it to see Michael standing there holding a leather-bound book.

“Hey, I hope I didn’t disturb you,” he said. “I just wanted to let you know that I’m headed out. And I wanted to give you this.” He handed her the book. It was gently worn and had a large cross on the cover. “It’s your Bible,” he explained. “I’ve been holding it for you, but I thought it was time for you to have it back.”

“Thank you.” Faith looked at the Bible. It didn’t seem familiar to her.

“I know you may not remember it,” he said, reading her expression, “but I hope it will give you some answers.” He paused until she looked up at him. “There is evil here,” he said gravely. “And I don’t know what lies ahead for any of us. But the most important thing you can do right now is to keep preparing and to keep strengthening your faith.” His expression softened. “I hate to leave you, but Peter will look out for you while I’m gone. And I’ll be back as soon as I can …”

“It’s okay,” she interrupted. She knew he needed to go, and she didn’t want him to feel guilty for leaving her. “Really. I’ll be fine. And thank you for this. It means a lot.”

“Okay, then.” He smiled, but she still saw worry in his eyes. There was a moment of awkward silence as though he wanted to say more. But he simply said, “Goodbye, Faith.”

“Goodbye.”

She smiled and watched him walk away before she shut the door. She hated to see him go. She felt safe with him and, though she tried not to, she worried about being left alone. She was grateful that Peter would be back. Maybe he could tell her more about everything going on. In the meantime, she decided to take Michael’s advice and spend some time in God’s Word.

Faith sat down on the bed and looked down at the Bible in her hands. While it still didn’t seem familiar, holding it gave her comfort. She opened it and flipped through the first few pages. She didn’t find her name written anywhere — she hadn’t really expected to. The Bible looked well worn and was filled with handwritten notes, some in an attractive cursive script and some that were penned in a childlike print. So she must have had it since she was very young.

She turned back to the dedication page and read what was written there:

To my dear daughter,
May this book be the source of your greatest wisdom as you begin your journey of faith. I will not always be here to guide you, but God will never leave you. He has a plan for you beyond anything you can imagine. Seek Him always. Learn His ways. And let Him lead you as you travel through this life and into the next …

“I have thought, I am a creature of a day, passing through life as an arrow through the air.  I am a spirit come from God and returning to God; just hovering over the great gulf, till a few moments hence I am no more seen — I drop into an unchangeable eternity!  I want to know one thing, the way to heaven — how to land safe on that happy shore. God himself has condescended to teach the way: for this very end he came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book.  O give me that book!  At any price, give me the book of God!  I have it: here is knowledge enough for me.… I sit down alone: only God is here.  In his presence I open, I read his Book; for this end, to find the way to heaven.”
-John Wesley

As Faith read the dedication, the image of a woman with long brown hair filled her mind. Her mother. She remembered her mother. Suddenly, all of her childhood memories came rushing back. She could remember her parents: Sam and Joanna Davis. She could remember her childhood home in Georgia, her elementary school, her dog Samson, her best friend Mai, and … The realization washed over her like a wave. My name is Cassandra.

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously,
and he will give you everything you need.”
~Matthew 6:33 NLT

God chooses to make Himself known to us, and He leads in many ways. It’s okay if there are times we don’t hear His voice. He is always with us, and we can trust Him to take the initiative to reveal His plans. God invites us to bring our questions to Him, but we should focus on seeking Him more than obsessing over finding answers.

The Holy Spirit is our guide for understanding God’s will. Jesus Christ is our example to follow. And the Bible is our standard for interpreting what God says.

The Bible connects us to God’s wisdom and power and allows us to glimpse life-changing truths. As we seek God in the Scriptures, He reveals who He is and teaches us to do His will. It can be difficult to distinguish God’s voice from the many others that surround us every day. But we can rest assured that God will keep speaking if we will keep listening. The best way we can learn to discern His voice is to spend time in His Word.

Seek God. Focus on Him. And the answers will come.

– – – – – – – – – –
Excerpt from FOUNDATIONS OF FAITH
25th anniversary ed., Helios Publishers, 240 AN (2476 AD)

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”

Psalm 119:105 NIV

This week’s Scripture passages focus on seeking God. As we do, we allow His peace to fill our hearts. Knowledge begins with reverence for the Lord. We can trust Him to direct our paths and to provide wisdom for the journey. God invites us to draw near to His throne of grace and find all the answers we will ever need.

“It is the Bible itself,
it is the straight inexorable logic of its on-march which drives us out beyond ourselves
and invites us, without regard to our worthiness or unworthiness,
to reach for the last highest answer,
in which all is said that can be said,
although we can hardly understand and only stammeringly express it.
And that answer is:
A new world, the world of God.”

Karl Barth

References:

• Christian Believer: Knowing God with Heart and Mind — Readings. Abingdon Press, 1999.
• Jeffress, Robert. What Every Christian Should Know: 10 Core Beliefs for Standing Strong in a Shifting World. Baker Books, 2023.

Images & Audio:

• Images created using Midjourney Bot AI image generator, midjourney.com
• Audio clips from mixkit.co