We are now six years into what will likely be the most storm, chaos, and crisis filled couple of decades any of us will experience in our lifetimes (the 2020s and 2030s). We seem to be in a bit of a lull at the moment, but nothing has fundamentally changed. We wait pensively for the next health or financial crisis to rear its ugly head, for the next “George Floyd” moment to reignite social unrest, or for Artificial Intelligence to trigger the “Great Reset.”

Americans are a resilient people; we have ways of muddling through difficult times. Christians are blessed with peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:4-7). God has also blessed us with blinders which keep us from going crazy over existential threats. For example, we do not worry about the risk of death every time we get in a car. God encourages and empowers us to overcome fear and anxiety.

On the other hand, God does not intend His people to be caught unaware, but to recognize the challenges AND opportunities He has allowed and orchestrated. Blinders are good until they blind us to the dangers staring us straight in the face – dangers to our families, friends, and fellowships. For those wondering what I am talking about, please refer to the two Metacrisis postings, here and here.

There is not one crisis in either Metacrisis list that popped into existence overnight. They have been growing on us for years and decades. Most of them are rather easy to get used to, or to learn how to ignore, until they start directly threatening those we love and are called to protect, nurture, and warn. The deception and destruction will only get worse if we fail to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10).

But enough with the dooms-day talk! Storms, chaos, and crisis do more than threaten us; they provide kairotic opportunities. Kairotic time refers to the exact or critical moment for action, as defined by the ancient Greek word “kairos.” It signifies a qualitative, permanent time that is not just chronological but also about seizing the right moment to act effectively (Wikipedia). God has purposefully birthed and positioned us for this kairos moment.

God has opened a window for Christianity to once again be the source of meaning and purpose in people’s lives. Modernity’s failure to give people meaning has left a spiritual vacuum that must be filled. Simultaneously, the Body of Christ is experiencing a divinely ordained transformational moment – a step closer to the Lamb’s wife having made herself ready (Revelation 19:7). The opportunities are numerous, enormous, and awesome!

With this broad view in mind, the Lord has encouraged me to offer the following reflections for 2026. You may recognize some of them from last year. Again, nothing has fundamentally changed. The storms, chaos, and crises will force challenge and opportunity into our closest spheres of influence.

Please consider these reflections prayerfully, trusting the Holy Spirit to speak through one or more of them. Let me know if you would like to search deeper.

• The old forms of the institutional church are coming to their end. The new forms will be influenced by the brokenness, uselessness, and corruption of the old (as areas for reformation). Those choices must be resolutely made. Passiveness is one element of brokenness found in the old forms.
• As we traverse this season of transition between the new and old forms, do not be surprised by, nor afraid of, experimentation. And do not fear becoming involved. You will be challenged to trust the Holy Spirit more than your traditions. Those who have already begun, hold on to your experiments lightly – transformation requires flexibility and responsiveness to the Holy Spirit.
• Practice wonder and attend to the beautiful and the good – in spiritual and practical ways. Go for a walk, listen to good music, think about the most beautiful thing you have ever seen, find a picture of it. This matter of wonder, beauty, and goodness is about our reattending to God and His kingdom. You can find several articles on wonder here.
• Signs and wonders are coming – prepare and position yourself for them. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring them to pass (Psalm 37:5). The best first move is finding (more) intimate communion with God. You may have to force yourself free of distractions – be relentless. Whatever you are doing to learn and hear His voice, do more of it. Without the Lord’s commanding voice, we have no faith (Romans 10:17); and we are lost.
• Faith without works is dead (James 2:17). Do not hesitate to do what you hear; it is for the perfection and increase of your faith. All that God offers, including Himself, is conditioned on obedience (John 14:15-17, 23). Ask Jesus to command you, and then do what He says.
• To walk in the supernatural, some things of the natural must be deliberately sacrificed. I suspect most of us do not have to wait for God to put His finger on those things. Resist them to discover just how subtly powerful they are. God put two questions to me that may help you as well: Would you rather have information or revelation? Entertainment or intimacy? Time is of the essence.
• Whatever “receive the love of the truth means to you (2Thessalonians 2:9-10),” practice it more. The challenging thing about deception is its nature: people being deceived do not know what is happening to them. Be suspicious, but most of all receive and exercise the love of the truth being offered to you by God.
• In the kingdom of God, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. This applies to all levels of community. The greatest corruption in the old church forms is our competitive separation. The Lamb’s wife is making herself ready, she will not be dismembered, and we are running out of time to be a part of her. Our doctrines are not as important as our unity in the faith and knowledge of the Son of God (Ephesians 4:13). Avoid doctrinal division like the plague.
• Digital Technology is being used to steal away our attention and corrupt our minds. An entire generation (GenZ) has been characterized by the mental, emotional, social, and spiritual destruction brought about by smart phones and social media. More than 30% of internet content is pornography. Artificial Intelligence will exacerbate these plagues and the crises mention above. The Body of Christ must identify and mitigate the destructiveness of Digital Technology, AND work to restore those who have been damaged. We have written a number of articles on this subject, beginning here.
• One of the greatest opportunities provided by the storms, chaos, and crises can be found in public education. The old forms are giving way to the new at an incredible pace. The time is now for the Body of Christ to reestablish itself as THE community responsible for the education of our children. We are researching the opportunities and will be writing about them soon.

As we step deeper into this incredibly chaotic decade, I pray you will find hope and see opportunity in these reflections. I suspect there are more than a few of you reading this who are further down this path than a year ago. You have a good understanding of the times, you have been pursuing the Lord’s will, and you have been transformed. My hope in this article is your encouragement – encouragement to seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance for your spheres of influence:

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25

Finally, the purposes and principles of transformation apply to groups as much as they do to individuals. Several of you have been encouraged to start a small community to work these things out together, or to speak more prophetically into the group already entrusted to your care. This article and these verses are your encouragement to get on with it.

Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 1Corinthians 14:1

Surely the Lord God does nothing,
Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
A lion has roared!
Who will not fear?
The Lord God has spoken!
Who can but prophesy? Amos 3:7-8

God bless you all with a courageous, bold, and profitable 2026. It will be a year of profound transformation for those submitted to the Spirit’s work, serious about the Father’s will, and abandoned to the Lord Jesus.

Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might!

Humbly yours and forever His,

Rob

#iamjustthepen