Silver Linings amidst National Storms

As Seasons Change

The weather is finally transitioning, and the cooler air heralds the end of summer’s oppressive heat and the beginning of 8+ months of pleasant Texas weather, which is often eclipsed (especially for non-residents) by the 3+ months of ungodly heat preceding it.

The change of seasons signifies more than a mere shift in weather—it marks a turning of the leaf, a new setting, an opportunity for changes in life, heart, and circumstance, not just climate. This sensation of impending change is amplified by our nation’s approaching election. The world we inhabit today is unrecognizable compared to the landscape of sixteen years ago, let alone further back. Rapid currents of change have plunged us into a maelstrom of cultural and spiritual turbulence, the likes of which this nation has seldom seen.

Much of what is transpiring is negative, disturbing, even alarming—the gender mania, wokeness, hostility toward Israel, mass exodus from the church, the reigniting and detonation of racial tensions, the increasingly popular suppression of free speech, the runaway spending, and the volatile economy with untenable debt. And that’s just scratching the surface. There’s plenty to be deeply disturbed about.

Positive Changes amidst Tumult

Yet, amidst these tumultuous times, there is a significant and seemingly growing minority finding unprecedented freedom from the unexamined life. Living in the haze of unexamined cultural myths poses a greater danger than the tumult itself. As the ancient adage goes, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”  The kingdom of this world, with all its mythic authority and power in conflict to Christ, has sustained substantial losses in the hearts and minds of devout believers, signaling a new engagement in spiritual and cultural battles in place of the previous passive acquiescence to the erosion of foundational values.

More people are wary of and resistant toward the “deep state”—an unelected agenda-driven bureaucracy—than ever in my lifetime. More people are aware of, skeptical toward, and turning off the bellows of bigotry—fake news and mass media—than ever in this country’s history. More people are skeptical of the contradictory “expertise” of the scientific priesthood since Covid than we’ve ever seen. More people are rejecting the over-medication of children and the crony manipulation of big Pharma than ever. More people are speaking out against and rejecting legacy academia than ever. The number of Americans choosing to home school right now is increasing at a level never before known in our nation’s history. We are living smack dab in the middle of a back-to-the-land movement—the renaissance of the American homesteader, a resurgence of DIY self-sufficiency.

Shifts in Left and Right

So, the news is not all bad. The times they are changing, but God is preparing a people to hear, comprehend, and enact His message of hope and wholeness for these turbulent times, even while those worshiping at the throne of corporate man and his faux-divine intelligence “progress” in the opposite direction.

A critical shift in the recent political landscape is the pivot from the “Right,” which traditionally viewed government as a necessary evil to be minimized, contrasting with the “Left’s” perspective of government as a vehicle for hope, progress, equity, love, change, and salvation. Now, this current populist iteration of Right-wing politics (which I hesitate to label conservative) perceives government equally as a vehicle of hope and salvation as their Left counterparts, albeit with different strategies and a greater emphasis on religious liberty (thankfully). However, the tragedy of our time is that both the Left and the Right have converged around the belief that the nation’s hope depends on bigger and better government, rather than on personal responsibility, family accountability, church community, and the pursuit of free individual or at least private agency in life.

Nevertheless, the outlook is not devoid of hope. As I contemplate the impending changes, I confess to a mix of trepidation and burgeoning excitement. Regardless of the electoral outcomes, something profound has been ignited among the devout, signaling the dawn of a revival, a pivotal moment priming us for the prophetic fulfillment of all things in Christ. In this envisioned future, Christians allow Jesus to reign supremely, establishing His kingdom not through political might but through the invincible power of truth, love, and the Holy Spirit.

Let us pray for our leaders, for the forthcoming election, and most importantly, for the deep-seated changes stirring within many hearts. May these sparks of change mature into convictions that transform individuals, families, and communities, forging bonds strong enough to withstand the storms on the horizon.

“At evening time it shall be light.”—Zechariah 14:7

“And the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.” — Isaiah 9:2

In the most unexpected moments, when human strategies falter before divine might, a child born in a humble stall in Judea embodies the unexpected ways of God. By the power of the Spirit, what human strength and intellect could never anticipate begins to unfold. And I believe that the revival and orchestration of the end-time church will emerge just as counterintuitively.

“Your kingdom come; Your will be done.”—Matthew 6:10

Conclusion: Eyes up and Hearts Ready

As we navigate these changing times, let us not become cynical or jaded. Remember, before these current shifts began, God called some of us as pioneers in fields that are now ripe with hope and promise. Let us look beyond ourselves to the church everywhere—and keep striving to be a beacon of light and a pattern of hope for those moving away from Babylon, gazing toward Zion, and questioning if there might be more to their Christian life and the mission of the church than they once imagined. We are living to see our prayers answered—Christians are stirring from their sleep. We are positioned uniquely at the right place, at the right time, with the right message, and a life that embodies it—for those in search of deeper hope and answers in these times of swift transition. Jesus, help us to remain faithful!

Stay encouraged. Keep your eyes up, your hearts expectant, and your hands ready to serve.

God bless you all!

Asi