The other day I was reading Psalm 25 and verses 4-5 really stood out to me. Then, as I was thinking about what to post today, those verses came to mind in conjunction with some other things that I’d been thinking about over the past several months. Plus I had just finished editing some pretty farm photos that didn’t necessarily go with any particular story. So, I sat down to write, and this is how it turned out!

“Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.” Psalm 25:4-5

What would you say was the worst year in history?

Perhaps it was 1945. The glories of victory and national pride had vanished. The noble dreams of unity and racial purity had faded into desperate hopes for survival. Communism and decadent Western Capitalism had come to conquer. Berlin had fallen. The beloved Führer was dead. Mussolini was executed. Japan was devastated. Concentration camps were emptied. The era of antisemitism, racial ideology, heroism, and sacrifice had come to an end.

To a German nationalist at the time, a product of Nazi propeganda with a totalitarian worldview, yes, 1945 could easily be dubbed as the worst year in history.

However, to someone submitted to God as the ultimate authority—a Christian who loves God’s ways (and not man’s ways), God’s paths (and not prevailing paths), God’s truth (and not his own truth), and desires to foster a worldview not without reason, but subject to Scripture first—would would have a completely different perspective on the year 1945, regardless of nationality! For instance, my World War II veteran Grandfather.

Or, perhaps, the worst year in history is 2025. In the US, a controversial figure ascended to the presidency, shutting down government funding for Planned Parenthood, forcing the closure of over 60 clinics. Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives are on the decline nationwide. Children are restricted from certain medical procedures. Women’s sports are restricted to biological females. Antisemitism is under fire on college campuses. The death penalty has returned. Mainstream media is accused of spreading propaganda. Illegals are denied entry into the US. You would think we were moving back to the Dark Ages!

To anyone who does not believe that life begins at conception, nor accepts God’s design for sexuality, nor understands that God loves both Palestinian and Jew, nor believes that mankind is indeed sinful by nature, yes, 2025 might feel deeply troubling, the worst year in history.

But to a Christian—a completely surrendered Christ-follower whose intellect operates under the authority of God’s Word, who loves God’s ways (and not man’s ways), God’s paths (and not prevailing paths), and God’s truth (and not his own truth), and desires to foster a worldview not without reason, but subject to Scripture first—would look back on the year 2025, despite it’s challenges, as a decisive victory for Biblical morality, common sense, and traditional values.

This kind of contrast shows up in other areas too—like photography. In photography, there are many moral choices that one has to make. What is ethical and what is not? What content is appropriate to include in a photo and what content is not? What is modest, and what is not?

One could debate endlessly on where lines should be drawn. But in the end, whatever decision is made will be based on the worldview of the photographer. Are foundational decisions shaped by the whims of culture, fluid and accommodating to what is popular or accepted? Or is the fear of man not allowed to weigh in? Does my worldview begin with an honest reading, studying, and meditating of the Scriptures?

If only Biblical worldview was allowed to prevail, not just in photography ethics but in every area of professional, public, and private life, there is no doubt the world would happily avert facing the worst year in history.

“Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.” Psalm 25:1-3.