This article seems to be a bridge between our last book, The Storms Have Only Just Begun (which is being republished later this year), and a project we have been working on for almost two years, A Christian Response to the Metacrisis. The former was written to help Christians prepare for the storms; the latter, to examine the impact that prepared Christians might have on the new institutional forms which will emerge from the Metacrisis – including those of the church.

When we wrote The Storms Have Only Just Begun, we knew there would be significant opportunity for the Body of Christ to once again become the source of meaning and purpose for Western society (Vervaeke, 2021). However, we had no idea just how bad things were going to get. As it has turned out, COVID was the first of many storms, the harbinger of more intense societal disturbances.  

Research for the current writing project quickly revealed much more than we imagined; most know it now as “The Metacrisis.” It has been some time since we wrote directly on the Metacrisis, so let me give you a couple of definitions:

The Metacrisis is an umbrella term for the interconnected challenges facing humanity, including technological acceleration, environmental degradation, and societal fragmentation (Karaoguz, 2022)

The Metacrisis is the convergence of multiple overlapping global crises, including ecological, psychological, and societal breakdowns. It represents the systemic nature of these issues, where solving one problem often exacerbates another (Kowalski, n.d.).

To bring this closer to home for the Body of Christ, consider what God has to offer through the ambassadors of His kingdom for the following crises that face our family members, friends, and neighbors:

• The meaning crisis;
• The identity crisis;
• The addiction crisis;
• The loneliness crisis;
• The suicide crisis; and,
• The population crisis.

Each of these (and this is not the full list) will be exacerbated by the employment crisis, which has begun and will accelerate with the rapid adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI). According to Forbes magazine:

AI-driven job displacement has been significant in 2025, particularly in white-collar roles. According to reports, April alone saw over 23,000 tech workers laid off, with companies like Klarna, Duolingo, Cisco, and Amazon shifting investments toward AI automation (Fennell, 2025).

Pause here for a moment and consider the effect a job loss might have on someone already suffering from one or more of the crises listed above. People, marriages, and families who have not developed strong foundations will likely lose their proverbial houses in the storm. Where will they turn for refuge, encouragement, and wisdom? Who is best prepared to take them in?

Short of divine intervention, there is no stopping the accelerating advance and implementation of AI. Companies and nations agree, “If we don’t win the race to AI dominance, we will lose.” It is a zero-sum, finite game. Nations, particularly the United States and China, are running headlong into whatever AI will become, without worry for the outcome, and with little to no self-interest in regulating its development. In fact, the race to AI hegemony has been compared to the no-holds barred creation of the A-bomb (Meachem, 2023).

It is becoming increasingly difficult to find a voice arguing for either a minimal or a purely utopian impact of AI on humanity. The radical disruption caused by AI will attract the greatest attention of mass media outlets and social media platforms, masking the crises boiling underneath and rolling over the lives of individuals, families, and communities in every demographic. The great destruction of ill-prepared “houses” will continue to accelerate.

Ironically, for God’s kingdom, the threat and impact of storms, chaos, and crises is potentially (i.e., if we are prepared to respond) good news. The opportunities for ministry are enormous! Loving one another will soon become a survival necessity.

Developing and maintaining our focus on the close-at-hand person(s) will require commitment and diligence. As you can see from the previous paragraphs, it’s easy to get lost or overwhelmed in the big picture. Those things we cannot control have a way of distracting us from what’s most important: our families, friends, neighbors, and communities.

Have you been wondering if your prodigal would ever come back to the faith? Have you been waiting on the Lord to do something in your family or fellowship? Are you looking for a sign, encouragement, or opportunity to reach out to your lost friends and neighbors?

Now – right now – is the time to stop wondering, waiting, and looking. We were created and saved for such a time as this!

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10

God has prepared the good work; but who is prepared to walk into it?

Furthermore, we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Of course, this includes storms, chaos, and every crisis known to man. In our most recent newsletter, we explained how the opportunity for transformation is proportional to the chaos that season of transformation contains. This includes the manifestation of God’s glory, and the increase in faith of everyone involved.

How do we begin?

There are two ways to talk about the first step in the transformation process. The first is found in the Old Testament description of that process:

³ Trust in the LORD, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
⁴ Delight yourself also in the LORD,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

⁵ Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
⁶ He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday. Psalm 37:3-6

We’ve written extensively about this passage (click here for the latest). Generally speaking, verse three describes a person prepared for transformation; verse four, the beginning move; verse five, the core work of transformation; and verse six, the outcome promised by God. Verses three and four are our focus here.

The person prepared for transformation trusts the LORD, is in the habit of doing good, is a kingdom citizen, and lives confident in the LORD’s faithfulness to them. The “delight” of verse four literally means “to be soft (anag in Hebrew)” – like clay in the Potter’s hand. When we surrender to the LORD for our transformation, the desires He has stirred in our heart become His purpose. And, as Job said after being humbled by God, “I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.”

The second way we can understand the beginning of the transformation process comes to us from the conclusion of Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount.”

Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall. Matthew 7:24-27

In The Storms Have Only Just Begun, we suggest that every Christian participate with the Lord in the inspection of the foundation and structure of their “house.” The desire God has stirred in a person’s heart is often discovered in the inspection phase of the process (as seen from this perspective).

I hope and pray this makes sense to you. Please, do not allow this pen’s attempt at explanation overwhelm or discourage you. Reach out and I will walk you through it. In the meantime, the remainder of this article will help you assess – and hopefully correct, as necessary – your perspective and posture toward the incredible opportunity God has afforded the church in this season of storms, chaos, and crises.  

Assessment and Response

It seems important to begin by stating that I – Rob Streetman – intend no judgment (even the good kind) in this article. Being particularly aware of my role as pen, and to avoid any interference, I encourage you to listen carefully to what the Spirit communicates in the following. Only God knows our hearts and how to motivate and move us into the center of His will. Moreover, He works in mysterious ways. When storms, chaos, and crises abound, the only way to know how to respond is to know and focus on His voice.

So, please use the following as a tool for conversation with God. Be quick to listen and slow to speak, but don’t avoid the hard questions that come to your mind. The Father loves talking with His children.

Perspective

Our capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance (Webster, n.d.) naturally affects the way we respond to them. Furthermore, we carry our “world view” around subconsciously (i.e., we use it without thinking) and this can be a problem. Thinking about the way we think is a good practice, particularly for the Christian.

The ability to perceive supernaturally is a Christian distinctive. We have been given eyes to see and ears to hear, that we might know the mysteries of the kingdom of God (Matthew 13:10-17). Moreover, we have the perspective of heaven, for we are seated in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6).

So, with the Holy Spirit’s help, determine which of these statements best describes your perspective on the storms, chaos, and crises that God has allowed or created in this season of our lives.

1. Sorry, I don’t know what you’re talking about.
2. Storms come and go all the time; nothing special here.
3. I see it: This will continue to be the most storm-, chaos-, and crisis-filled time we will experience in our lifetimes.

Of course, there may be a better way of describing your perspective. The point of the exercise is to intentionally think about the way we are thinking, to do so in conversation with God, and to respond as He encourages.

Posture

Merriam-Webster (n.d.) defines posture in three particular and important ways:

1. the position or bearing of the body whether characteristic or assumed for a special purpose
2. state or condition at a given time especially with respect to capability in particular circumstances
3. a conscious mental or outward behavioral attitude

Bearing, state, capability, and attitude seem to be the operative words. How are you, and your family, friends, and neighbors bearing up under the storms of this decade? In what states of mind, heart, and spirit has the chaos left you? What capabilities have you developed for meeting the approaching storms? What is your attitude about the crises threatening you and those you love?  

Here are a few postures we might have assumed. Again, use these as starting points of exploration with God. Don’t be surprised to discover gaps and blind spots. Recognize those discoveries as God’s love and grace (Hebrews 12:5-6).

1. We have enough going on. We will get by as we always have. Sorry, but we are not interested.
2. I don’t think we can bear another storm; our house is on the verge of collapse.
3. Our foundations have been tested and proven to be solid. We are ready for whatever storm, chaos, or crisis God allows into our lives.
4. We want to be God’s instrument of refuge, encouragement, and wisdom for my family, friends, and neighbors.

It is hard to imagine someone disinterested in the inspection and restoration of their foundation, but I get it. We would rather ignore the danger until it goes away, we have become very busy people with very little time to consider the consequences, and survival often breeds overconfidence. Obviously, we would recommend against this posture.

Individuals, families, and fellowships who have recognized the fragility of their houses and their foundations know they need help and are more likely to ask for it. Again, where will they turn? As we see it, there are two alternatives, defined by Romans 12:2.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Those who turn to the world may find temporary relief, but their increased conformity will ultimately end in the destruction of their house. Conversely, God offers His good, acceptable, and perfect will – the safest place to ride out the storm. At this stage of the game, the best place to start looking for Him is in one of the strong houses He has positioned around you. Don’t presume to know who that may be; let the Holy Spirit lead you.

Everyone who has heard the sayings of Jesus and done them will find their foundations and houses strong enough to withstand every storm and crisis God allows into their lives. For you, we have two encouragements. First, keep in mind that the storms will become more intense over time. As all home owners know, protection and maintenance are ongoing endeavors.

Secondly, if your house has stood strong against the storms, chaos, and crises of this decade, God has prepared you with the capability to be refuge, encouragement, and wisdom to your family members, friends, and neighbors. Expect knocks at your door; the opportunities to be God’s instrument will amaze you. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

Readiness Assessment Exercises

Finally, for those suspicious of all this storm, chaos, and crisis talk, but still curious about the strength and importance of their foundations, we offer two exercises. If you will work through these humbly and prayerfully with God, He will reveal His perspective and inform yours. Furthermore, He will shape your posture to fit His will for your life – like clay in the Potter’s hands (Isaiah 64:8).

Our first exercise begins with three simple questions related to our hearing “these sayings of mine” and doing what He has said:

• Did you know there are over fifty sayings of Jesus?
• How many are you doing?
• How many can you name?

Don’t be discouraged; most Christians I have surveyed recalled less than five Sermon on the Mount sayings. In response, we created a series of articles on “These Sayings of Mine.” You can find the links for those articles here. We have also posted a quick list of fifty sayings.  

Our second exercise comes from The Storms Have Only Just Begun (Streetman, 2022), where we argue that the best way to find the center of God’s will is to actively participate in the restoration of all He lost when we rebelled against Him in the Garden of Eden. Simply ask yourself, your family, and your fellowship how well you are participating with God in restoring His reign over, His intimacy with, His habitation in, and His glory through His people. Let me know, and I will send you our survey for that assessment.

Whatever your perspective and posture, and however well you did with our exercises, always remember that God lovingly desires our best, and He is more than capable of giving it to us and those we love. Delight yourself in Him, and He will give you the desires of your heart. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light and your justice as the noonday.

God bless you with vision and courage for those entrusted to your care; that you and they may respond to the Metacrisis as ambassadors of His kingdom.

Have a strong day in the Lord,

Rob

#iamjustthepen

Fennell, A. (May 29, 2025). What Recent Tech Layoffs Reveal About The 2025 Job Market. Forbes: Retrieved on June 3, 2025, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewfennell/2025/05/29/what-recent-tech-layoffs-reveal-about-the-2025-job-market/.

Kowalski, K. (n.d.). A Crisis of Crises: What is the Meta-Crisis? (+ Infographics). SLOWW: Retrieved on June 2, 2025, from https://www.sloww.co/meta-crisis-101/#meta-crisis-definition.

Karaoguz A. (September 25, 2022). A Primer on the Metacrisis and Metamodernism. Adam Karaoguz: Retrieved on June 2, 2025, from https://www.adamkaraoguz.com/a-primer-on-the-metacrisis-and-metamodernism/a-primer-on-the-metacrisis-and-metamodernsm.

Meachem, S. (September 8, 2023). A Race to Extinction: How Great Power Competition Is Making Artificial Intelligence Existentially Dangerous. Harvard International Review: Retrieved on June 10, 2025, from https://hir.harvard.edu/a-race-to-extinction-how-great-power-competition-is-making-artificial-intelligence-existentially-dangerous/.

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Perspective. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved June 5, 2025, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perspective.

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Posture. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved June 5, 2025, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/posture.

Vervaeke, J. and others. (2021). The 4 Horsemen of Meaning. The Dr. Jordan B. Peterson Podcast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCvQsqSCWjA.