Being living stones for miraculous times 

There are seasons when the world feels as though it is shaking, when certainty dissolves, and familiar structures seem less dependable than they once were. We are living in such a time. Global unrest, economic pressure, rapid change and a deep hunger for meaning all converge to create what many would call miraculous times. Not simply because we long for miracles, but because only God’s intervention will truly suffice. In moments like these, Scripture calls us not to retreat, but to recognise who we are and how we are to live.
Peter writes, “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5). This is a striking image. Stones are normally cold, static and lifeless, yet Peter insists that in Christ they are alive, active and purposeful. A living stone is shaped, positioned and held in place by the master builder. It does not choose its own location or function, but it contributes to the strength and beauty of the whole. In miraculous times, God is not primarily looking for spectacular individuals, but for faithful people who understand their place in what He is building.

Being a living stone begins with surrender. Stones are not self-made; they are quarried or picked, so that they fit precisely where they belong. This is rarely comfortable. God often uses pressure, disappointment and uncertainty to refine our character and align our hearts with His purposes. As James reminds us, the testing of our faith produces perseverance, shaping us into maturity and completeness (James 1:2–4). In times when many are anxious or disoriented, a shaped and settled believer becomes a place of stability and refuge for others.

Miraculous times also demand visible faith. Living stones are not hidden underground; they are part of a structure that can be seen. Jesus Himself said that a city built on a hill cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14). The Church was never meant to be an abstract idea or a Sunday event, but a living, breathing presence in the community. When compassion replaces indifference, when integrity stands firm against compromise, and when hope is expressed without apology, the spiritual house becomes tangible. People may not initially understand our theology, but they recognise authenticity when they see it lived out consistently.

A single stone on its own is vulnerable and ineffective. Strength comes from being joined together. Paul reminds us that we are members of one body, each belonging to the others (Romans 12:5). In an age that prizes independence and personal expression, the biblical call to belong feels countercultural. Yet God releases His power through unity. When believers pray together, serve together and bear one another’s burdens, space is created for God to move in extraordinary ways. Many long for miracles while neglecting fellowship, but Scripture repeatedly connects the two.

To be living stones is also to embrace our priestly calling. Peter goes on to describe a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:5). This speaks of worship that extends beyond songs into daily obedience. Our work, relationships, decisions and attitudes all become offerings. Paul echoes this when he urges believers to offer their bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1). In challenging times, quiet faithfulness often carries more weight than dramatic gestures. God delights in obedience offered without applause.

This calling carries responsibility as well as privilege. Living stones do not exist for their own display, but for God’s glory and the blessing of others. When we allow our lives to be aligned with His purposes, ordinary moments become holy ground. Conversations open unexpectedly, acts of kindness echo further than imagined, and perseverance under trial speaks louder than any sermon. In this way, God works miracles through people who remain faithful where they are placed.

We must remember that living stones rest upon a living cornerstone. Jesus Himself is the foundation, chosen and precious, and whoever trusts in Him will never be put to shame (1 Peter 2:6). When the ground shakes, what matters most is what we are built upon. Our confidence is not in favourable circumstances or human solutions, but in Christ’s unchanging nature. As Hebrews reminds us, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Miraculous times do not require extraordinary Christians, but grounded ones.

In the days ahead, the invitation is clear. God is building something enduring, and He calls each of us to take our place within it. Not striving for prominence, but offering availability. Not chasing miracles, but embodying faith. When living stones remain aligned with the cornerstone and connected to one another, the presence of God becomes unmistakable. And in a world desperate for hope, that may be the greatest miracle of all.