Last year, for me, feels marked by a medical timeline. There was the jumping through hoops to get insurance pre-authorization, the planning and making reservations to be out of town for a length of time, and the monitoring of the medical bills—what insurance would and would not cover.

Throughout the months, I reminded myself to trust God every step of the way, and watched as He worked out the timing and details. But, when the final bills came in the mail, I felt myself start to panic. The amount we were responsible for was higher than what I had anticipated.

I had already set up a payment plan and I knew it would all work out, but seeing that final dollar amount caused my stomach to tense and my heart to pound.

What my head told me—that everything would be alright—was betrayed by the panic mode my body went into on its own.

Have you ever been there?

As I sat at the kitchen table with bills and insurance paperwork spread out in front of me, I decided I had to look at it differently. I knew the total we would have to pay, but I wanted to know what our insurance company had already paid.

The two totals were not even close. In that instant, the panic I felt subsided, and all I could do was thank God for His provision.

The same dollar amount that looked so high now appeared to be so low—all because of a different perspective.

Sometimes, a different point of view makes all the difference in our attitudes, our outlook, and our response to God.

From a different view, I could better see how God was taking care of us. Instead of anxiety and worry, I felt peace.

When we’re in the middle of a situation, it’s hard to see past what’s right in front of us. We may know God is at work, but it’s so much easier when we can actually see what He’s working on.

I knew God had been taking care of us financially, but when I was only focused on one dollar-amount, everything else became blurred. It wasn’t until I looked at the other total—the total we didn’t have to pay—that I could see His work more clearly.

Often, in the midst of our circumstances, we have to make an intentional effort to find a different perspective.

3 Ways to Look for a Different Perspective In The Midst of It All

1. Ask God

When we’re too close to what surrounds us, it’s difficult to see it from any other way. But God sees every detail from every angle. Ask Him to help you see the situation the way He sees it. Ask Him to show you what you need to focus on in that moment. And then in the next hour. And then in the next day. When we are unable to prioritize what needs our attention, God can. He knows what’s coming next and where we need to be looking.

2. Look for How God is Working

When we’re in the midst of something, it can feel as if God isn’t actively working. Our view becomes limited to what we can see, and we forget to look for what’s not as obvious. Sometimes we have to quiet ourselves to hear from Him and realize that no matter what we are dealing with, there is so much we don’t have to deal with. What is God keeping off of your shoulders during your current circumstances? Look for how He’s been at work and the blessings you’ve received despite your current day-to-day difficulties.

3. Remember How He’s Worked in the Past

Sometimes it’s too soon to see the opposite side like I did with the bills and insurance payments. As we ask God to show us a different way of looking at a situation, remember how He’s worked in the past. Is there a time when you couldn’t see where you were going, but had to trust Him along the way? Review that situation from start to finish, focusing on how God walked you through it. Our God is not a one-time God. Whatever you are facing, He will see you through it. Draw strength from how you’ve seen Him work in the past, and let it help you keep moving forward.

Every day, God is at work in ways we can’t possibly know about or understand, taking care of multiple details so we don’t have to. When it’s not easy to see, it helps to take a step back and intentionally look for Him, even in the smallest way.

What’s been your experience? Has there been a time when a different perspective brought you peace, instead of worry and anxiety?

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