As we look at the unfolding of events around us, I think it’s our default to have 2-D vision, meaning that we see only what’s obvious and behold primarily what’s happening on the surface. Yet especially in times like these, it’s important to develop 3-D vision — the type that enables us to look beyond what we observe with our senses. I remember back in the 90’s, there was something called a stereogram, which was a very scrambled looking image that you could stare at for a period of time and supposedly see another picture hidden within. They were everywhere — at malls, in stores, on binders, in books and many other places — and I tried like crazy to behold what many people did in these seemingly obscure puzzles. After attempting every which way, I pretty much decided that they were a hoax… until a friend in junior high vowed to teach me how to decipher them. As she held up a stereogram image in a book, she instructed me to look at it and just relax. She said that multiple times and then she told me to pretend I was looking through the image. After five long minutes of seeing nothing, I finally beheld what others had been talking about all along. Suddenly, the squiggly lines and obscure shapes became a big dolphin that was coming at me off the page, and I was amazed!

My friend, sometimes life is like that stereogram image. While everything around you appears to be chaos and confusion, you must relax in order to cultivate 3-D vision and behold a higher purpose. When you choose to see through the problems that clamor for your attention, you will discern something much more majestic — the image of God emerging from the pain. Though others may mock you or say that your faith is just a hoax, your Savior is faithful, and He works powerfully when you remain calm in the presence of calamity. Yes, there are things to be concerned about, but Jesus stands outside of time holding each and every answer. As you ease your grip on your circumstances and surrender them to His perfect plan, His goodness will emerge from the pages of your life in powerful ways, and you will get a glimpse of divine glory!