Below is an extrapolation of three articles that I’ve written, published and posted dating back to 2009, 2010, 2023:
“Everything That Can Be Shaken Is Being Shaken”
“The Whole Earth is Groaning”
“The Nations Rage”
In retrospect, it is a reminder to take review of how the Lord has been preparing and warning us to stay rooted, grounded, and tethered. Take some time with me to read and have some devotional time and prayer. May the Lord speak to us for the season ahead. Reflecting on what He has been speaking to us in the past, and bringing it to the context of today, helps us to get somewhat of a bearing for the future.
For years, I have shared what began as recurring dreams and a deep burden in my spirit. I have often summarized them in three simple but sobering words: Exposure. Implosion. Explosion.
At the time, many wondered what those words meant. Over the years, however, we have witnessed them unfold in ways that few could have imagined.
We have seen exposure in hidden things brought into the light. Leaders once considered untouchable have fallen. Institutions once trusted have lost credibility. Corruption, deception, compromise, and moral failures have been uncovered across nearly every sphere of society.
We have witnessed implosions, not merely isolated failures but the collapse of confidence in many of the very systems upon which people have placed their hope.
Governments struggle under increasing division. Economies tremble. Educational institutions wrestle with identity and purpose. Media credibility has eroded. Businesses fail. Families fracture. Even churches and ministries have experienced painful internal collapses.
And we have seen explosions, wars and rumors of wars, violent conflicts, terrorism, civil unrest, natural disasters, technological upheaval,
economic shocks, cultural revolutions, and unprecedented polarization. The pace and intensity seem to increase with each passing year.
Yet these words were never intended simply as predictions of calamity.
They were and remain a call to preparation.
A Divine Shaking
Scripture tells us that there are seasons when God permits shaking, not to destroy His purposes but to reveal what cannot be shaken.
“Yet once more I shake not only the earth but also the heavens… so that what cannot be shaken may remain.” (Hebrews 12:26-27)
We are living in such a time.
Everything built merely upon human wisdom, political power, financial security, personal ambition, institutional reputation, or cultural influence is proving vulnerable.
Many of the things we assumed were permanent are revealing themselves to be temporary.
The shaking is exposing our foundations.
Where Have We Placed Our Hope?
One of the greatest dangers is not merely that institutions fail. It is that we trusted them more than we trusted God.
Some have placed their confidence in governments. Others in political movements. Some in financial markets. Others in personalities, ministries, denominations, technology, or cultural influence.
None of these were ever meant to carry the weight of our ultimate hope.
The kingdoms of this world are temporary. The Kingdom of God is eternal.
When temporal foundations shake, eternal foundations remain.
The Whole Creation Is Groaning
Paul wrote:
“The whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.” (Romans 8:22)
Creation itself reflects humanity’s brokenness.
Natural disasters increase.
Communities are displaced.
Violence escalates.
Mental and emotional despair rise.
The earth groans.
People groan.
Nations groan.
Yet birth pains do not announce death.
They announce that something new is coming.
God is preparing a people who will reflect His glory in the midst of great darkness.
Why Do the Nations Rage?
David asked the timeless question:
“Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing?” (Psalm 2:1)
Today we see anger defining public discourse.
Division has become a commodity.
Fear has become a currency.
Confusion is celebrated while truth is questioned.
The raging of nations is ultimately the raging of hearts that have drifted from God’s authority.
Political solutions alone cannot heal spiritual problems. Legislation cannot replace transformation.
Only Christ changes hearts.
An Unshakable Kingdom
The writer of Hebrews gives us the compass for direction and stability:
“Since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” (Hebrews 12:28)
This is not the hour for panic.
Neither is it the hour for denial.
It is the hour for discernment.
It is the hour for repentance.
It is the hour for humility.
It is the hour for courageous faith.
The Church must remember who she is. Our calling has never been merely to survive history.
We are called to demonstrate another Kingdom.
The darker the night, the brighter the light of Christ shines through surrendered lives.
Preparing Rather Than Panicking
Throughout Scripture, God always prepared His people before seasons of shaking.
Noah prepared an ark.
Joseph prepared for famine.
Esther prepared for such a time as this.
The early Church prepared through prayer, unity, and dependence upon the Holy Spirit.
Preparation is never driven by fear. Preparation is an act of faith.
This is why I have often said we must prepare:
- A people for the coming of the Lord.
- An ark of refuge for those seeking hope.
- The way of the Lord in our own hearts and communities.
The answer to the shaking is not withdrawal. It is spiritual awakening.
A Thought
The recurring burden of Exposure. Implosion. Explosion. was never about predicting headlines. It was about awakening hearts.
Perhaps the greatest exposure is not simply the failures around us, but the condition within us.
Perhaps the greatest implosion is not merely institutional collapse, but the collapse of our self-sufficiency.
And perhaps the greatest explosion God desires is not one of destruction, but an explosion of revival, righteousness, compassion, prayer, and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.
As everything around us continues to shake, let us build our lives upon the One foundation that cannot be moved.
Our confidence is not in governments.
Not in economies.
Not in personalities.
Not in institutions.
Our confidence is in Jesus Christ and His unshakable Kingdom.
The kingdoms of this world will continue to rise and fall.
But “the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15)
May we be found faithful, not frightened.
Awake, not asleep.
Steadfast, not shaken.
For when everything that can be shaken is being shaken, those who build and stand upon the Rock have the assurance of being connected to The Unshakable Kingdom!
By Doug Stringer