I stumbled upon the Artemis II live stream while I was on the elliptical last week. Seeing what the astronauts were seeing and hearing their voices transmitted from space boggles the mind. To be honest, though, I can’t let myself think for too long about their forty minutes on the far side of the moon—forty minutes out of contact with the Earth.
That great and historic feat of discovery hooked my thoughts to God’s communication with Israel through Isaiah, his prophet:
He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you (Isaiah 30:19).
The people of Israel had bent over backwards to assert their independence, chasing after other gods and ignoring God’s chosen messengers, one after another. Their troubles were often a result of their waywardness, and yet God remained available and responsive. One little cry of repentance from his people would stir God’s fatherly heart.
Nothing can block God’s ability to hear and know his children. Even if you managed to take yourself to the far side of the moon, even there, God could hear you and know your thoughts. He is never out of touch.
Even on the far side of the moon: “He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you (Isaiah 30:19).
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Space travel may have been the farthest thing from David’s mind when he wrote Psalm 139, but he certainly knew what it was to erect sin barriers between himself and his God:
Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me”
(Psalm 139:7-10).
God wants us to rest in the truth of his availability, his omnipresence, and his love.
Even here.
Even on the other side of your sin.
Even on the far side of the moon.
Even today.
“[The Lord] will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry.”
This is good news.
Even if it’s been a while since you last communicated with God, let him hear your voice today.
Holding You in the Light,
Nothing can block God’s ability to hear and know his children. Even if you managed to take yourself to the far side of the moon, even there, God could hear you and know your thoughts. He is never out of touch.
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Living Our Days 
I love that! Even on the far side of the moon, God hear us!
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This truth reinforces for me God’s magnificent Creator-ship of the universe. His fingerprints are all over the far side of the moon!
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I love those verses of Psalm 139! They have always been a powerful reminder that God is with me wherever I am and no matter what is happening! Thank you for highlighting them today!
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They came to mind in the writing process, and I couldn’t leave them out. We are far too absorbed in our own thoughts and actions to be adequately appreciative of God’s immanence.
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Oh what a wonderful reminder that our God is ALWAYS with us!
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Always! What a great comfort and encouragement!
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I only caught a couple of excerpts from Artemis. How wonderful that some of the crew seems to be professing Christians. I’ve sometimes wondered if modern technology could be our present day “tower of Babylon.” But someone with a right heart can view space travel as exploring the wonders of God’s creation. And what a comfort that, even there, God is with His people and His ears are open to their cries.
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I can imagine that the believers on the Artemis II were claiming the truth that God was with them even when they were cut off from communication with Earth. That kind of travel takes amazing courage!
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I didn’t get to see it, but what a great way to describe God being able to hear us!
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It’s all over the internet, so you won’t have any trouble finding it. I stumbled onto the splash down event with all the parachutes just last night and was happy to see the safe landing.
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Oh good!
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I love this, Michele. God is “never out of touch.” Such a comfort! (And way to go, working up-to-the-minute, current events into a blog post!)
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Thanks, Lois, I hardly ever manage to respond to anything in the moment because I’m a slow processor, but this event has been incredibly impactful!
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I am always in amazement of space travel, but this one of course marked a new level. I loved this post and the reference to Psalm. Such good truths! Thank you for sharing and have a good week.
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It really is incredible, and the more we think about it, the more insurmountable the obstacles seem that have to be overcome.
Thank you for reading!
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That must have felt so weird to be out of contact with the entire earth for so long… I have a hard time going on vacation in a different time zone and not getting to talk with family!
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YES! I used to go nuts when our son lived in Colorado, and it was only a two hour difference, but I felt as if my brain was severed in two, trying to keep track of the time in both places!
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