Mark Sayers makes the case that we are at the start of a new era.*

When you look back on human history you can see how one era gives way to another. The early 1500’s was the start of a new era; so was the industrial revolution.

At the time, people wouldn’t have been able to see it occurring in real time. But in retrospect, we can see certain global trends which signaled the shift in a new era. This impacted how people thought, how nations interacted, and how the world worked. These are all big things.

Sayers says that we are in the midst of a transition of the same scope—right now. Granted, we don’t know what this new era will look like. We are in an in-between period—a “gray zone,” as he calls it.

As a result, there is increased uncertainty, increased anxiety, and increased complexity.

In a situation like this, people look for strongholds. A stronghold is something that makes you feel secure. It gives you stability and advantage.

Unfortunately, people can look for strongholds in all the wrong places. They find them in a certain political ideology, in their country, or even by making their own home into a kind of fortress.

Enter Psalm 27:1: “The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” 

We are in an uncertain time. I’m prone to agree with Sayers that the coming era will bring increased uncertainty, anxiety and complexity. I won’t go into all of that now [if you’d like to learn more, click the sermon link below], but suffice it to say that our stronghold needs to be none other than JESUS.

Fear not. Jesus is greater than all adversity.

“The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

No one. No thing. No matter what.

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Notes:

–“In a new and uncertain era, what is our stronghold and purpose?” Sermon. July 17, 2022. Click here.

–*Mark Sayers, A Non-Anxious Presence: How a Changing and Complex World Will Create a Remnant of Renewed Christian Leaders (Chicago, Moody Publishers, 2022).

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.