It’s All in How You Look at It

Last year was an amazing representation of what life can look like when compared to both sides of the same dollar bill.  Depending upon how you view that one dollar bill in your wallet, you’ll see one set of images or the other.  It just depends on what side of the bill is facing upward.  The truth though is no matter what side of the bill is facing you, the other side still exists. Yet what side you focus on—well—that’s up to you. Right?

Let’s make it personal.  For some of us in 2025, there was a side of life that represented disappointments, trials, and despair.  There were relentless uncertainties reflected in job loss, personal and family health challenges along with financial woes.  There was grief due to the passing of a loved one, either unexpectedly or as a result of a lasting illness.  This was one side.

Yet, on the other side of life’s “dollar bill” we also saw the hand of God at work in every situation.  In the midst of difficult times, we saw our faith rise before us in ways that we never thought possible. We witnessed our tears watering our worship of the One who heard our cries as we prayed for a shift in our favor.

Just as we now reflect on 2025 and sing my soul looks back and wonder how I got over, let’s take out the same one dollar bill and remind ourselves that even though it still has those same two sides, our focus, straight out of the 2026 gate, must be committed to that side of the bill that reads “In God We Trust.”

We already know that with the highs will come the lows, yet how we handle those lows will depend upon the side of the bill that we choose to keep before us.  It really is all in how you look at it.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus.  Look full in his wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.

Song: Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus by Helen Howarth Lemmel (1922)