Power-filled Positive Living Chapter 17a- Power to reject the null hypotheses of Life
It was June, 1995. I was uncertain as to what the future might bring. My whole world seemed to have collapsed when Pete had died. My whole world had for so many years been wrapped around caring for and loving Pedro Barba Arroyo. Willingly I had used up all the resources in an attempt to help him get well. We had lost the practice, lost our home in Texas, and we had moved to Mexico with the hope that Pete would get well. He died on July 23, 1994 and I had spent the last year traveling between Pachuca, Hgo, Mexico and my hometown of Dexter, Mo. All that had been left of what had been to the world’s eyes a prosperous life was some land in Mexico which Pete had left the children and I. Now that was secured and I had made the final trip from Pachuca to Dexter by way of the “carreterra” (Mexican highways) to begin to pick up the pieces of my life to start again. My grief was overwhelming still—all my hope had been that God would heal Pete here on this earth. Yet, God chose not to; instead, God chose to take Him home. Pete had accepted Christ as His Savior only a few short months before his death. I did not question God’s Sovereign choice; yet, I also knew that there was a lot of brokenness left behind in me and in my children. Scars that would still need to be healed. Though I had looked for a job—none seemed available at first. So, I decided we would all go to Disney World. I flew Melissa in from California, invited my nephew Derek, loaded up my van and we went on a trip to Florida. I ignored the cost as I spent what I had on Disney World parks, Hard Rock Café, and Universal Studios. We stood on the beach at Daytona and then we returned home. I wanted to restore hope and joy into the hearts of my family. I was uncertain of what the journey would bring tomorrow; but, I did know that whatever it brought—God was at my side and would be through it all. Oh, by the way, as soon as I returned I had a job waiting for me—that vacation had been a leap of faith for me and a trip for all to remember.
Where is the power that can give a weary, broken soul hope? Can it be found in the recesses of a despairing soul by merely proclaiming that all is well? When everything is lost, where does one find the strength to stand again?
That is the journey I have wanted you to take with me through this book. Power—in statistics is the strength to reject the null hypothesis that everything is by chance only. Is my life only by chance? Where is the power to be able to say with all certainty that all things work together for good to those who are in Christ? (Romans 8:28). That Power is secured by the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. No other religions, philosophies, nor thought processes have the power to sustain hope in the midst of utter despair. This is the message that Paul, Peter, James, John and all the early believers were willing to suffer and die for. They had seen the risen Christ and they knew that in Him, we have newness of life.
“23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man (Jesus) whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”
As for me, I am glad that I did not know all of the trials that still lay before me when I chose to take that vacation. Nor do I know all the trials that yet lay before me. The past three months have been laden with moments of great heartbreak; yet, this I know. God is in control and He has a plan for my good and that my life will be prosperous. Oh, perhaps not the prosperous that the world considers. Still, I know it will be prosperous in Joy unspeakable found in Christ, hope that is never dying, and an ever flowing fountain of love within my heart. That is the power to reject the null hypothesis of life.
Listen to Matt Maher sing, Christ is Risen
©2015 Effie Darlene Barba
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