I never knew that time had a “fast-forward” button on its remote control. “You’ll be amazed at how quickly it goes,” I remember everybody telling me before our journey began almost seven months ago. I believed it too, but only partially. Gosh, eleven months is a long time. I know it’ll go by fast, but not THAT fast, I thought ignorantly.
Well, it’s about to be month eight..and I was 100% wrong. It did go by that fast.
Of course, you always hear that statement, or something close to it, in many seasons of a person’s life. The first in walking onto your high school campus as an unknowing freshman, never even for a second believing you’ll be graduating in four “short” years. “In the blink of an eye you’ll be walking across that stage,” my teachers and parents would tell me. I’m sure it will, I probably thought sarcastically. I was wrong again. Four years later, an almost carbon-copy of the same scenario would play out for college. One minute I’m 14 years old, and the next I’m 24. I can’t believe it. Everybody was right. My close friends, some of whom are married with children, share this exact feeling as they watch their kids grow at an unsettling rate into miniature versions of themselves. “They’re how old now? Seriously?”
My concept of time is nowhere to be found. This is crazy.
Even though these past seven months have been a blur, I’m in complete awe of what the Lord has done. I’ve learned and grown in more ways than I could ever have imagined, with a majority of it coming through hardship, my flesh never mincing words in telling me its distaste for those moments.
I sometimes catch myself questioning the reality of this journey, like I’m in some sort of alternate universe or dimension. I’ve always known that the “church” was a global entity, but I never could truly relate to the concept. I mean sure I could read books, watch news, hear stories, and even pray into the struggles and labor of churches oversees, but it almost seemed like there was a mental block there because I had nothing circumstantially to compare it to in my own life. I know that Revelation 7:9-10 (And I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb) is going to happen one day, but my brain couldn’t envision it.
That is not the case any longer.
The most quoted passages in the Bible regarding spiritual warfare is probably Ephesians 6, which I’m sure many of you actually know by heart, when Paul writes about clothing yourself in the “armor of God” in order to combat “not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Out of everything I’ve learned about the believers in each of the countries we’ve traveled through, one glaring truth stands out: they thrive in spiritual combat. They constantly sharpen and ready their weapons and armor for battle. And they know that if the Lord allows the sun to rise each, that battle will wage and they will not shy away from it. Plus, if they thrive in spiritual combat, they know they can thrive under physical persecution, which the church has always done rather well in this part of the world.
Thank you all so so much for praying. I know many barriers the devil has built have been demolished because of your prayers, and we cannot be more grateful. For our squad, if you could be praying for strength and endurance going into these final four months. It’s assuredly weird for us to see the end coming so quickly, but our job to bring the Lord’s kingdom is still the same. And for me specifically, I am beyond tired (as the title of this post might indicate). The traveling lifestyle we’ve been in may seem like a dream on the outside, but I would not wish it for most people. Sometimes I want to literally go into a coma for a few days and let my body heal and recover. Wow that would be so nice, but I know I can’t do that. Constant culture-shock takes its toll, too.
Our time in Georgia last month was extremely fruitful (and cold), and a few of us, including myself, are back in the Middle East spending time in Egypt with local believers while the rest are working in Armenia. And for those who know me well, I have continued my cold shower ways, much to the befuddlement of my squad. They think I’m crazy (I might be). Also, I was able to read a 900 page book this month, which probably shocks me more than it does you. Rainbow Six by Tom Clancy. Solid read.
Love ya’ll dearly! May the Lord bless and keep you close to Him.
-Bradley
