Christian Influence in Chaotic Times: Shining Brighter When the World Gets Darker

How bold believers are making an eternal impact in a world that's losing its mind—and how you can too.

There’s something you need to know before we dive into today’s post:
Being a light in the darkness isn’t easy. It’s not glamorous. And sometimes, it’s downright terrifying.

I’m not speaking from a place of theory.
I’m speaking from years of scraped knees, bruised pride, and standing up for truth when it would’ve been a whole lot easier—and safer—to sit down and shut up.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been that person—the one who speaks up, who stands firm, who refuses to let injustice or deceit just skate by unnoticed.
And let me tell you: it’s gotten me into a fair amount of trouble over the years.

But here’s the thing:
I wouldn’t trade a single hard moment.
Because every time you stand for what’s right—even if your voice shakes—you’re building something unbreakable inside you.
Resilience. Freedom. Strength.
The kind of soul-deep courage you can't get from reading a book or sitting quietly on the sidelines.

I recognize that what we’re about to talk about today is a challenge.
For some of you, it may feel intimidating.
It may dredge up old fears or stir fresh doubts.

That’s okay.

You don’t have to be perfect.
You don’t have to have the perfect Scripture ready.
You don’t have to deliver the perfect emotional response every time someone throws a curveball your way.

You just have to try.

Because every time you try, every time you take one shaky step of obedience, you’re shining a light that punches holes in the darkness.
You’re strengthening the Church.
You’re pushing back against the lie that says faith should stay private and silent.
And who knows?
Maybe your act of obedience will be the spark that lights someone else’s way home to Jesus.

There’s a quote I love that says, “Speak your truth, even if your voice shakes.”
I think that’s exactly what God calls us to do in these days.

Step out like Peter stepping onto the water.
Eyes on Jesus.
Heart pounding.
Feet moving anyway.

You won’t do it perfectly. (Spoiler alert: none of us do.)
But you will find Him faithful in every faltering step.

So with that in mind—
Let’s talk about how to be an influence for Christ in chaotic times, and why it’s more important now than ever.

Influence Starts Small—but It Doesn't Stay Small

You don’t need a million followers or a mic-drop moment to make a difference.
You don’t need a ministry platform, a bestselling book, or a viral video.
You just need a willing heart and a little courage to obey.

God isn’t measuring your influence the way the world does.
He’s not scrolling your follower count.
He’s watching for the small, faithful moments—the ones nobody else sees but Him.

Influence for the Kingdom often starts with:

• A quiet word of encouragement to a coworker hanging on by a thread.

• Speaking the truth gently but firmly when the conversation turns toxic.

• Choosing not to compromise when everyone else shrugs it off and tells you to "just go along to get along."

• Praying for someone who doesn’t even know they're on the edge of giving up.

And here’s the thing:
It may feel tiny in the moment. Insignificant. Forgettable.
But in God's hands, nothing is insignificant.
Your tiny flicker of faithfulness can become a wildfire of hope in someone else’s life.

Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 5:14–16:

“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

You were never meant to hide your light.
You were meant to set it up high where it can be seen,
to chase the shadows back, to remind the world that hope is not extinct and truth still stands firm.

Even one little lamp can drive back a whole lot of darkness.

And here’s the best part:
The darker the world gets, the less it takes to make a difference.
In pitch blackness, even the smallest light can blaze like a bonfire.

You never know who is watching.
You never know whose heart might be reached by one small act of faithfulness.
You may not get applause. You may not even get a thank you.
But Heaven sees—and Heaven keeps score.

In the end, it’s not about being famous.
It’s about being faithful.
And when you choose faithfulness over fame, God turns small beginnings into eternal victories.

Today's Culture Needs Courageous Influence

Not lukewarm, pat-you-on-the-head influence.
We need fire-in-the-bones believers like:

• Kap Chatfield (using media to reach the next generation)

• Rock Leach and Social Fire (boldly confronting lies with humor and truth)

• Laura-Lynn Tyler Thompson (fearless defender of biblical values in Canada)

• Everett from Ohio for Freedom (standing for truth and freedom)

• Pastor Ray Curry (cultural discernment + gospel preaching)

• Vlad Savchuk (spiritual warfare and deliverance ministry)

• Julie Roys (calling for accountability in the American church)

None of these leaders bowed to the cancel culture mobs, nor should we.

Silence is Complicity

It’s tempting to stay silent in chaotic times.
We tell ourselves it's to “keep the peace.”
We convince ourselves that “someone else will say something.”
We justify it by thinking, “It’s not really my place.”

But here’s the brutal truth:
When the people of God go silent, the enemy gets louder.

Satan doesn’t need you to agree with him—he just needs you to stay quiet while he sows his lies.
He thrives in the empty spaces where truth should have been spoken.
He builds fortresses in the silence where courage should have echoed.

But God didn’t rescue you, redeem you, and fill you with His Spirit just so you could blend in.
He called you to stand out.
To shine.
To speak.
To fight the good fight of faith.

2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us exactly what we’re equipped with:

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.”

Fear whispers, "Stay quiet. Keep your head down. Don’t cause trouble."
But faith roars, "Stand up. Speak life. Light a fire in the darkness."

When Christians stay silent, chaos finds a megaphone.
When Christians speak truth—even trembling, imperfect truth, soaked in love and grace—chaos backs down.

You don't have to yell.
You don't have to argue.
You don’t even have to have the perfect words.
You just have to refuse to disappear.

In a world that has traded truth for comfort, your voice—your faithful, spirit-anchored voice—is a weapon.

When you speak light into a dark place, you punch holes in the enemy’s lies.
When you refuse to compromise, you remind everyone watching that the real King still reigns.
When you share hope in a hopeless world, you become part of the rescue mission God has always had in motion.

Silence might feel safe, but it's a trap.
Faithful courage might feel dangerous, but it's the path to victory.

And here’s the secret the enemy desperately hopes you never realize:
Even one voice, raised for truth, can cause the gates of hell to tremble.

So speak up, soldier.
You're not alone.
You're not powerless.
You're not forgotten.
You are a living, breathing battle cry in a world that desperately needs to hear one.

You Are an Ambassador, Not a Bystander