Turn the television on or scroll through social media and we are bombarded by what is going on in the world right now. Racial injustice. Protests. Covid-19. It all seems overwhelming. It seems like too much to handle. Having a science background, I like to look at the statistics and graphs and try to figure out the answers, but the cards definitely seem like they are stacked against humanity right now.
One of my favorite scientists on social media right now is Mark Rober. He used to be a NASA engineer and now he does really cool science experiments on social media. (Check him out. He crushed the world record for making the world’s largest elephant toothpaste experiment in a swimming pool!)
I think that’s why I love science: there are so many theories, explanations, experiments, and equations that teach us a lot about the world. Sometimes scientific explanations and data are just so overwhelming, though, and can cause anxiety if we just look at the numbers. We therefore need to limit the amount of time we spend watching the news and looking at the statistics. Even Mark Rober warns of “doom surfing” on social media and that there are a lot of anxiety-filled ads trying to get our attention. He advises, “five minutes in the news will tell you what you need to know, then turn it off.”
Amongst all this chaos, I was recently reading in Hebrews 11 about the many heroes of faith: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and more. I started wondering, What was unique about these people that made the author of Hebrews want to write about them? I think their perspectives were transfigured, transformed into something more beautiful or elevated. They all had a daily heavenly perspective.
How do you become transfigured? When the apostles saw Jesus’ transfiguration (Mark 9:2-8) it reinforced that Jesus was, in fact, God Almighty! The apostles on the Mount of Transfiguration saw God’s glory! The word “glory” encompasses the greatness, beauty, and perfection of who God is and yet words really fail to explain his glory. These characters, these heroes of faith in Hebrews 11, had a changed perspective to one that had God’s glory in it. How do we change our perspective to consider God’s glory, to consider heaven daily? We do this by focusing on God’s attributes.
Abraham and Sarah had faith even though the statistics were against them. It says Sarah, by faith, who was well past childbearing age, believed that she would get pregnant. She was 91 years old! Can you imagine having a baby at 91?! This is when it all hit me. Sarah believed and had faith, she had a transfigured perspective, even though the cards were stacked against her. The statistics were not in her favor!
Right now, when I listen to the media outlets I feel like the statistics are not in our favor, but I have realized that my God is a statistic breaker! He is bigger than the statistics. He is bigger than COVID 19, fear, political disputes, and anger. He is the Alpha and the Omega. The great I AM. Just like Sarah, I choose to believe and have faith that God is still in control! I choose to have a transfigured perspective. We need to believe that God is in control of our situations as well. As I walk throughout my day I like to remind myself that my God is a Statistic Breaker!
Reflection / Journal Questions
- Make a list of God’s attributes. Find scripture to support these attributes.
- What statistic or challenge seems impossible in your life right now? Commit it to God and ask Him to be your statistic breaker.
Angela Larson is a science teacher, cycling instructor, outdoor adventurer, wife, and mom of three girls. She loves to include ideas about science and nature into her writings. You can often find her at the YMCA working out and spending time with other women. Quality time and vanilla lattes are her love languages.