Lately, I have found it difficult to answer a very simple question. “How are you?” is a polite question that is commonly asked in a casual greeting and should not be hard to answer. Yet, for me, it has been a struggle of late. Depending on my perspective in the moment, my answer could be one of two extremes. Because right now, in this season, it truly feels like Charles Dickens said in the opening line of his famous novel, A Tale of Two Cities, “It was the best of times, and it was the worst of times.”

You see, on any given day, there are many terrible things that are happening in the world around us, globally, locally and individually. COVID continues not only to linger on, but seems to have spawned monster offspring in the variants that are spreading like wildfire all around us. People are sick, hospitals are filled, and lives are lost every day. It is depressing, and after a year and a half, we are all weary of this viral battle. But then on top of that, our country continues to proliferate its own battle of opposing views about how to respond to the first battle. Communities, families and friends are divided on the issues surrounding the debate, and media of every kind feeds on the contention. And this is only one of the “terrible things” that truly make this season feel like the worst of times. There are so many more burdens we carry and battles we face day after day.

So if things are so bad, which they are, how can it also be the best of times? The answer is perspective—how we look at things. The older I get, the more I realize that so much of our response to life has to do with our perspective. The bottom line is that we can choose how we look at things and what we focus on. We may not be able to choose or control what we face in this life, but we can choose our perspective. It is up to me—and you—whether I will spend my time and energy focusing on the worst around me, or look for the best. And I promise you, there is “the best” to find.

No matter how dark and depressing things may seem, there is always something good in this world and in this life. I know, I know, I can hear it now—some of the diehard pessimists quickly questioning my assertion that the proverbial silver lining does actually exist. But I continue to assert with confidence that it does, IF you are willing to see it. You have to change your perspective. You have to look for it, and you have to want to first. It takes intentionality, but good can be found.

Discovering the best of times may be as simple as beholding the beauty in God’s creation, or expressing gratitude for the gifts of life we too often take for granted–like seeing, hearing, walking or breathing. When we look harder, we might find even more blessings in our world and lives that we failed to notice while we were consumed by the terrible circumstances happening around us. We might remember that friend who always makes us laugh or the family member who is there for us when we need it most. We might think about a favorite pet who brings us joy. These are just simple examples, but when we focus on all that we have, rather than what we do not, we realize there is more there then we thought. In the Bible, James 1:17 tells us that “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” We can find so many good gifts God has given us when we open our eyes and hearts to see them.

Not only that, but when we envision even our most terrible circumstances from a biblical perspective, we also have the joy of finding that the “worst of times” are ultimately used for our good. So either way, we do not have to be lost in despair when we choose to shift our perspective. Romans 8:28 tells us, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” For those of us who are followers of Christ, when we love Him and are called to His purpose, we have this promise that God will work ALL things for our good. This is an amazing promise!! In His Word, God is declaring to us that everything we face in this life—the good, bad and the ugly, of which we have an awful lot right now—will be used to accomplish good things for us. Imagine what that promise can do for our perspective. What if we choose to focus on that truth, rather than the terrible things happening around us or to us?

I believe that if we shift our focus, look for the good in this life and remember that even the bad can bring us good that we can have a revival in our thinking and feeling. So next time someone asks me, “How are you today, Rebecca?”, I can confidently reply, “Times are tough, but I am blessed.” How you respond will have everything to do with which perspective you choose. I hope you choose to see the good.