When Crisis Pulls Back the Curtain

Moments of crisis have a strange way of pulling back the curtain on life. We go about our days thinking we’re in control, making plans, setting goals, moving forward and then something happens that strips away that illusion. Suddenly the fragility of life is laid bare, and we see everything with new eyes. As James 4:14 reminds us, “You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”

Over the past few weeks, especially since September 10th; the day that Charlie Kirk was brutally murdered, I’ve felt a shift in the atmosphere around me. It’s like a heaviness settled over my soul, but not in a hopeless way, more like a weight of awareness. The best way that I can describe it is as though the light has been turned on in a dark room. People are suddenly revealing their true colours. Some of the uneasiness I’ve carried about certain people has been confirmed; the masks are slipping, and what was hidden is now visible. Luke 8:17 says this: “For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.”

But, it’s not all darkness being uncovered. There’s also been an unexpected beauty in watching light break through in places I didn’t expect. People I NEVER imagined would come to Christ are surrendering their lives to Him. It’s humbling and awe-inspiring to witness. Crisis doesn’t just expose the shadows, it also ignites awakenings. In some lives, it’s been like dry tinder catching fire. In others, a quiet but steady turning toward truth. Isaiah 60:1 comes to mind: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.”

This season has forced me to take an honest look at my own boundaries and at my own life. I’ve realized I can’t keep my soul open to everything and everyone. Not every relationship is meant to be carried into the next season. I’ve made the deliberate choice to become “uncontactable” to the people who consistently bring negativity, chaos, or manipulation into my life. It’s not about anger or bitterness, it’s about protecting the space where my faith, peace, and healing are taking root. Proverbs 4:23 tells us, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

For so long, I tolerated or turned a blind eye to things because I wanted to be kind or understanding, but kindness without boundaries is self-betrayal. Distance isn’t always comfortable, but it’s necessary. I’m learning to surround myself with people of better quality; friends who build up rather than tear down, who speak life instead of death; who bring clarity instead of confusion. 1 Corinthians 15:33 warns, “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’”

This shift has been really heavy at times, but also freeing. It’s like clearing out a cluttered room so fresh air and sunlight can finally get in. I’ve come to see that when God starts exposing things, it’s not to harm us, it’s to heal us. When He closes one door, He’s making room for something healthier, holier, and more life-giving to enter. Romans 8:28 anchors me: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

If you’re feeling that same heaviness or noticing the same shifts in your own circles, don’t ignore it. Pay attention. Protect your peace. Make room for what’s true and good. These moments of crisis might feel unsettling, but they’re often the beginning of something great; a realignment, a clearing, a chance to see with clear eyes and step into a freer, lighter way of living. Psalm 37:23–24 reassures us, “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.”

❤️