A dark undercurrent began to emerge during the sweltering heat of July 2025 as the world grappled with the aftermath of lingering global tensions. The violence erupted with such ferocity that mocked humanity’s fragile hopes, from the gang-ravaged streets of Haiti to the cartel-fueled battlegrounds of Mexico. Three months later, on October 10, the number of deaths had ballooned: thousands had lost their lives, families had been shattered, and cities were on the verge of collapse.
Despite this maelstrom, a profound truth emerges-one that transcends headlines and statistics. We are witnessing a desperate struggle between darkness and faith, a struggle that transcends headlines and statistics. In these times of turmoil, as more souls turn to God, evil forces lash out. However, remember: the Almighty holds the reins, standing firmly with His believers.
Let’s face the grim reality head-on. Haiti’s descent into anarchy accelerated sharply this summer. Between October 2024 and June 2025, gangs unleashed coordinated assaults that claimed over 4,800 lives, with the bloodshed intensifying through July and beyond, emboldened by political vacuums. Human rights abuses, including mass killings and sexual violence, forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes as a result of the rise in human rights abuses. An entire neighborhood in Port-au-Prince became a no-go area, in which armed militias dictated life and death. This did not take place in one location; it spread throughout the Caribbean, posing a regional threat as gangs expanded their territory.
Across the Atlantic, a devastating civil war continues in Sudan. On October 9, Rapid Support Forces shelled one of the last operational hospitals in El-Fasher, killing 13 people, including a doctor and nurse, and injuring 16 more. Medical experts calling it a war crime, emblematic of a conflict that has displaced millions and starved communities throughout the region.
Earlier this month, renewed clashes between insurgents and government forces in northern Mozambique displaced 22,000 people, undoing fragile peace efforts. These aren’t mere footnotes in history; they are fresh wounds on our planet.
Closer to home, the United States hasn’t been spared. Portland, Oregon, once a beacon of progressive ideals, grappled with a “burst” in crime that left its police force “horrifically understaffed.” A brutal beating in downtown Portland claimed a life without even a suspect description, fueling calls for federal intervention. The FBI’s summer initiative netted 122 violent offenders in Norfolk and Richmond alone, yet mid-year data from the Council on Criminal Justice revealed persistent spikes in domestic violence across nine major cities. Meanwhile, in the UK, hate crimes surged for the first time in three years, with religiously motivated offenses hitting record highs—over 8,000 incidents reported in England and Wales. From knife crime among youth to politically charged assaults, like the stoning of Sarcelles’ mayor in France over narcotrafficking ties, the pattern is clear: violence metastasizes, fed by division, drugs, and despair.
A recent UN statement highlighted the fact that human trafficking is intertwined with organized crime, perpetuating gender-based violence in conflict zones ranging from Haiti to Sudan and exploiting vulnerable populations.
There was also an increase in Mexico’s cartel wars, with Los Chapitos joining forces with rivals in a bloody power grab that resulted in hundreds of deaths. Globally, the International Crisis Group’s report on “10 Conflicts to Watch in 2025” highlights the “staggering” rates of sexual violence in hotspots such as Sudan, highlighting a world where the most vulnerable suffer the most.
But here’s the pivot, the divine irony if you will. In the face of this onslaught, hearts are turning to God. According to the Barna Group’s 2025 State of the Church report, millennials and Gen Z now make the majority of church visits, surpassing older generations by 15-25 per year. There has been an increase in commitment to Jesus among young males, with commitment increasing from 52% in prior years to over 72% today.
Youth church attendance doubled from 4% in 2020 to 8% in 2025, while prayer rates also increased. Nearly half of UK youth now affirm belief in God, a stark reversal of secular trends. Even in the US, Pew Research notes the decline in Christian identification has stalled, with daily prayer stabilizing at approximately half of the population.
It is ironic that violence against faith itself—FBI-confirmed attacks against churches, such as the Michigan incident which killed four in September—has driven some seekers closer to God. In the opinion of The New York Times, religious assault often leads to deeper convictions, a “paradox of violence” where persecution forges unshakeable resolve in survivors. Despite threats, conversions persist in 10 nations ranked as the deadliest for Christians on Open Doors’ World Watch List.
As churches fill and your knees bend towards Christ, the Devil grows desperate, sensing his domain shrinking. This is not a coincidence. It is spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us: “We are not fighting with flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities, and powers of this dark world.”
The sovereign God, however, is revealed in Psalm 46:1 as our refuge and strength, an ever-present help when in need. In addition to orchestrating Israel’s exodus from Pharaoh, he toppled Jericho’s walls with shouts of praise and calmed David’s giant with a sling and faith. Today, He’s still in control-parting seas of despair for those who trust Him. Believers, take heart: the Creator is fighting on your behalf.
It is stated in Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” No cartel, no insurgent, no shadowy force can prevail against His plan.
A righteous person’s prayer is powerful and effective. James 5:16 promises that “a righteous person’s prayer is powerful and effective.” Consider Elijah, who shut the heavens only with his words. Intercession has been instrumental in the tempests of 2025, bringing down regimes, healing nations, and binding principalities. A prayer is more potent than a nuclear blast, which scatters ashes. A prayer rebuilds souls, mends societies, and leads us to eternity. Arm yourself with fasting, petitioning, and praising.
Let this season remind us that darkness precedes dawn as October arrives. The violence we mourn is the enemy’s death throes, provoked by a harvest of souls flocking to the Cross. You are on the winning side of redemption. Pray boldly, love fiercely, and stand firm. God’s light will eclipse all darkness when the King returns victorious.
