When God is in Control

It doesn’t take much these days to make life feel like it’s out of control. For the last nine days, my son has had a lingering virus that won’t go away. It’s not a cold, the flu, or pneumonia, just a virus that the doctor said would go away eventually. I wish I could do something to fix it to take his suffering away, but I can’t.

The check engine light came on in my car on Monday. Early diagnosis is related to transmission, which is not ideal. We dropped it off at the dealership where we bought it on Wednesday morning, and I still haven’t heard back about the issue or the cost to fix it. Out of my control.

Meanwhile, I have come down with the same virus my son brought home, and I have a half-marathon to run in a few days. It feels like all my training just flew out the window with how miserably congested and tired I feel. I have no clue how I’ll be feeling on race morning, and I’m not even sure I’ll have a car to get me to the starting line. No control.

Yet, when nothing seems to be going right, and I have no idea how things will work out, I find myself at peace. Why? Because somewhere deep inside, I know God has a plan. He’s working things out behind the scenes in a way that I can not fathom. One way or another, my family will be restored to good health. The money will be there one way or another to pay for the car repairs. When I am weak throughout the course of the race, God will be with me, and I will run with endurance. With HIM, it is possible.

If you’re feeling out of control and wondering what’s going on in the world, do not be afraid. God’s plans may not always be clear, but He has a reputation for fulfilling His promises. You may not win a million dollars that would seem to solve all your problems, but God will show up in the most resounding and fulfilling way possible for your situation. He will never fail us nor forsake us in life’s most challenging trials or the world’s darkest times.

Today’s dystopian read explores the themes of trusting that God is in control. When all hope seems lost, these teens must learn the beauty of surrender that leads to freedom from fear. This suspenseful story is sure to be an inspiring read for young adults and one that reminds readers to live a life fully reliant on God.

SYNOPSIS: In a world where the government’s CORE systems see and track everyone, seventeen-year-old hacker Seth Alvarez is determined to save his sister from being placed in a reeducation facility. Armed with a cryptic letter, Seth embarks on a search for the valuable incognito devices—cyber master keys that can set his sister free. But with only three weeks remaining, he finds himself wedged between two powerful forces who will stop at nothing to get the devices first.

GENRE: Dystopian, Young Adult

AVAILABILITY: Amazon (ebook, paperback, hardback), Barnes & Noble (ebook, hardback), Kobo, Author’s Website: https://jeremiahfriedli.com/books/core-deception/

OPENING THOUGHTS: In Friedli’s prequel novella, CORE Association introduced readers to the bitter cold of a semi-habitable region under CORE surveillance. This first full-length novel delves deeper into the dystopian world, following Krystin and Seth two years after the events in Association. The suspense keeps readers on edge as Seth tries to save his sister and evade CORE.

ACTION/ADVENTURE: This book opens with the death of a former friend of Seth and Krystin. The details remain minimal, but the idea of a body recovered from an icy river is a bit haunting and sets the stage for the severity of the consequences for opposing CORE. The stakes are raised as Seth strives to solve the clues left behind, clues that could lead to a life-altering discovery. Tension arises between Seth and Krystin when they cannot agree on what to do concerning their former friend’s intentions and whether finding the elusive technology is worth the risk. Most of the action centers on forming plans and executing clandestine attempts to hack information from secret computer portals that are rumored to be untraceable. A major problem remains: gray-ops police seem to find Seth every time he goes to access these portals, and he must make several harrowing escapes. Some of Seth’s adventures take him outside the protected living space into an unoccupied area called the ZONE (Zero Occupancy No Entrance). Contrary to the name, non-compliants tend to find their way into this area, and Seth encounters some violence in his attempts to seek information, gather materials, and find a temporary hiding place. You’ll encounter some gunfire and escape pursuits within the later chapters of this exciting novel.

ROMANCE: This novel is romance-free. Seth and Krystin remain friends and team up to outwit CORE.

FAITH: This book resonates with the theme of learning to trust that God is in control. In situations where there seems to be no hope, Seth must learn to trust that God’s ways are better than his ways, that God indeed has a plan and can be trusted even if that plan cannot be seen. It’s all about dying to self and surrendering to God in order to find freedom from fear even in the middle of a dystopian world. God doesn’t ask us to figure out how everything will work out, but to simply follow Him.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Packed with suspense and intrigue, CORE Deception is a thought-provoking and engaging read for young adults. This novel features a conclusive ending and sets the scene for the next exciting novel to follow. You’ll want to keep an eye out for the yet-to-be-released sequel, CORE Decipher.

Content Warning: One scene mentions a woman who was beaten and injected with a drug to kill her. There is an attempt to strangle an enemy character, and one protagonist struggles with dark thoughts of revenge, of killing anyone who’s a threat or may have been responsible for the death of loves ones. This book is rated “P” for some short-lived violence, action, and mild suspense.

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