Looking at the World with Fresh Eyes and Faith
Have you ever stopped and wondered, “What is really going on in America—and in our world today?” Back in 2023, I found myself asking this question deep in my soul. There’s so much confusion, anger, and division all around us, and it’s easy to feel lost. But the Bible gives us some guidance for times like these. Proverbs 11:14 says, “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.” In other words, when we don’t look for good advice and guidance, things can fall apart—but there’s hope when people come together and seek wisdom.
We live in a world that’s not perfect. According to Romans 5:12, sin entered the world a long time ago, and that’s why we see so much brokenness and pain today. There was once a time, before humanity turned away from God, when everything was peaceful and people were close to God. These days, most of us don’t like to talk about sin—it’s almost become a “bad word,” even in church. Instead, we focus on blessings and the good things God is doing, which is wonderful! But if you look at history, especially before every great spiritual awakening (times when many people turned back to God), you’ll find that the world was in a pretty rough spot.
Jesus talked about these things too. In the book of Matthew, chapter 24, he warned that in the last days, “sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.” He said we’d hear about wars, earthquakes, and disasters—things that can make us feel scared or overwhelmed. But Jesus told his followers not to panic. He compared these events to “birth pains”—the tough times that come before something new is born.
One major example was in 2004, when a massive earthquake and tsunami hit Indonesia and took the lives of nearly 228,000 people. It was heart-breaking, and events like this remind us of how fragile life is. Sometimes God gives us dreams, visions, or strong feelings to help us see what’s coming or to encourage us to pay attention to what’s happening around us. I believe these are ways God tries to get our attention—not so that we’re afraid, but so that we’re wise and alert.
Jesus also said that one day, things would be just like in the time of Noah—people living their lives, not realizing that big changes were coming. The point is, we shouldn’t be caught off guard by all the chaos and changes we see in the world.
So what can we do? I believe we need to encourage churches and all believers to really pay attention to the times we’re living in. God wants us to build strong communities, like the early church in the book of Acts, and to live in a way that honors Him. The Bible says, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). That means God wants every nation—not just America—to seek what’s right and good.
My hope is that we become people who aren’t afraid to talk about what’s wrong with the world, but who are also full of hope and ready to do what’s right. Let’s be open to what God is saying, willing to change, and encouraging each other along the way. If we do, maybe we’ll see a new time of renewal and hope—not just in America, but all over the world.
Blessings to you and your family as you think about these things.
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