How do we navigate this new world, one where we’ve lost our homefield advantage and find ourselves increasingly marginalised in a growing culture of corruption? No one can deny that South Africa has shifted from relative stability to a period of disruption and the uprooting of deeply held values and practices. There is a sense of loss of control and emotional numbness settling over many South Africans.

Identifying and analysing these emotions is often easier than discerning how we, as agriculturalists, should respond  in such a season. We long for a return to stability, predictability, and shared values. But what should we do in the meantime?

In search of guidance, I turned to my bookshelf and rediscovered two books that once helped me make sense of life’s complexities: Crossing the Bridge by Alan Roxburgh, which explores leadership in times of change, and The Church in Babylon by Erwin W Lutzer. These are powerful resources, especially for those grappling with the challenges South Africa is currently facing. What follows is a reflection on what I’ve read and what I believe we should do.

Face the facts

One of the toughest truths I had  to face is that I feel like a stranger in my own country. We are exiles – not geographically, but morally and spiritually. It often seems as though South Africa belongs to something or someone else now, which is why I refer to the current situation as the ‘new’ South Africa – not the real one.

We live in a culture increasingly driven by self-interest, greed, and a willingness to exploit others by any means, legal or not. Admittedly, this is a generalisation, but it is hard to ignore how far we’ve drifted from the Christian values that shaped my childhood and still drive my adult life.

Violence and corruption have become routine. Even our own labour union representative admitted to president Donald Trump that we are, or have become, a violent nation. Social media now has more influence over society’s values and emotional state than the moral guidance we once received at our mothers’ feet. And while it may seem tempting to isolate yourself or create a protective bubble for you and your family, such a strategy is unsustainable in the long term.

Lessons from scripture

I was shocked when I read  the story of Jonah and realised that the storm at sea did not arise because of the people on board, but because of Jonah’s disobedience.  The message is clear: We need to examine our own hearts before pointing fingers at others.

My best advice is this: Revisit the promises God has given you. Write them down, share them with your loved ones, and continually remind God of them. He evaluates our obedience and not our performance or success. In this new South Africa, we are being humbled. It is time to turn back to God.

There are no quick  fixes.  In Jeremiah 29, the exiles in Babylon are told to adapt – learn the language, plant crops, trade, build homes, start families, and live peacefully with their neighbours. But they are also called to live God honouring lives of personal holiness. Do not compromise your values by adopting the ways of those who do not honour God. This is more than survival advice for us living in South Africa.

Disruption and confusion also call for a shift in your leadership style. In stable times hierarchy works but in a season like this, we need leaders who bring people together – synergists with the skills to unite diverse groups.

Social media now has more influence over society’s values and emotional state than the moral guidance we once received at our mothers’ feet.

Both Noah and Lot lived in lawless times, yet their responses differed. Lot, though righteous, stayed silent about the sin around him, and it ultimately cost his daughters dearly. Noah, on the other hand, kept on spreading the gospel despite hostility.

We are not in this difficult season to be destroyed, but to be refined. God has not forsaken us. So, my final encouragement to you is this: Keep on doing the right things. If you are unsure what that is, turn to scripture, and maybe even ask your mother again