Times are never so bad that this can’t happen

Are there good things in our world? Yes. There are a lot of good things. 

At the same time, when we look around at all the division, violence, and sin—including the celebration of sin—it’s easy to get discouraged. 

That’s why it’s good to remember that God’s people have always been called to be different, even when—and I would say, especially when—things around us are less-than-ideal.

In Romans 12:2, Paul famously said: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…” He was implying that ‘the world’ is not something to be conformed to! Instead, we need to look elsewhere for our focus.

In Philippians 2:15 Paul’s language is even stronger. The people of God should live faithfully and “without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world…”

When we look around at all the division, violence and sin, it’s easy to conclude that being different doesn’t make a difference. But that’s simply not true. By the grace and help of God, you can shine among your generation as a light in the world. Plus, you can reflect the One who is making all things new, even if that transformation is happening in a different way—and on a different timeline—than you expect.

Influence goes both ways. We can be influenced by the world, but we can also influence the world. 

The martyred Englishman Thomas More once said: “The times are never so bad that a good person can’t live in them.”* That’s a good word for us today. Being a person of faith, prayer, grace and truth is always a safe bet, regardless of the craziness around us. 

Don’t be overwhelmed by the world. Don’t even be surprised by it. God is sovereign, and we belong to him. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.”

Notes:

-“Bad theology hurts people (2 Peter 2).” Click here. Sermon.

-*I’ve seen this quoted online in a variety of places. More recently, it was quoted on: The Catholic Saints podcast, published by the Augustine Institute on Apple Podcasts, July 11, 2026.

-Bible quotes, ESV.