The chaos is exhausting—at times almost unbearable.

From the horrific persecution and slaughter of Iranians under Islamic oppression, to the Candace Owens psychosis, to the alarming rise of antisemitism, to the delusional disconnect of politicians on both sides of the aisle—the cycle of madness keeps spinning. Headline after headline tells of the rage, oppression, and corruption metastasizing through our generation, distorting truth, and numbing the body of Christ.

And yet—beneath the debris of zealous pride, heretical beliefs, and outright biblical ignorance—an eternal Kingdom is advancing.

Many will never see it.

Supposed “Christians,” content with armchair opinions and cheap potshots, mistake commentary for obedience. But the Kingdom of God does not advance through social media outrage, crowd-funded agendas, or on the shoulders of self-appointed spiritual leaders. It moves quietly and powerfully by the Holy Spirit—through the humble, the poor in spirit, and the meek servants of a redeeming Savior.

I was reminded of this reality over the past few weeks through several encounters, particularly through the stories of missionaries.

A friend of mine, Mike, told me about a young pastor working among refugee camps along the Texas–Mexico border. Let’s call him Pedro. Pedro crossed into the United States and was detained by ICE, held for a couple of months in a border prison. Shortly after his arrival, another inmate was placed in his cell—a man who introduced himself as JC.

JC began sharing with Pedro the message of Jesus and His Kingdom. Pedro, who knew only fragments about Jesus, listened. Over time, his heart opened. Eventually—right there in that prison cell—Pedro surrendered his life to Jesus.
For the next two months, JC discipled him: teaching Scripture, praying with him, and affirming a calling that began to stir within Pedro—to return to the refugee camps in Mexico and plant a church among the displaced.

When Pedro was finally told he would be released, he made one final request: to return to his cell and thank JC for saving his life. The agents were confused. They told him he had been the only prisoner in that cell the entire time. There was no record of another inmate. No JC. No cellmate.

Pedro insisted. He described the man. He spoke his name.

There was still no record.

Not long after his release, Pedro entered the refugee camps outside Reynosa, Mexico. As he listened to the stories of other former detainees, a pattern emerged. Other prisoners from the same facility spoke of encountering a man named JC—one who shared the gospel and prayed with them.

The world may be violently shaking, but the Kingdom continues to advance.
It is moving—often unseen, often unbelievable.

In a few weeks, I will journey into the nations of Albania and Northern Macedonia to join local pastors and missionaries to train, teach, and strengthen Christ’s advancing Kingdom in these regions. As I reflect on the staggering spiritual statistics—only 1–3% identifying as Christians—I am convinced that much of the assault on the Church is simply a strategy of distraction.

While we are consumed with mindless drama, nations remain lost. While many uselessly rage over podcasters, reels, and political perspectives, darkness is consuming a generation. What a tragedy it will be for many in my generation to enter eternity with nothing to show but a life spent reacting to other people’s chaos.

As followers of Jesus, we are not called to chase mob-minded vendettas—whether secular or religious. We are called to follow Jesus, to hear His voice, and to obey His command to make disciples. We are not called to Christianize the systems of this world; we are called to live for a King whose way of life stands in direct opposition to popular ideologies.

When we compel the lost to follow Jesus, we are not asking them merely to behave better or live a life free of scandal. We are calling them to die—to surrender their lives, their thinking, and their autonomy—and to take up a new life of obedience to Jesus.

This is the only hope for our deranged world: men and women must be changed. They must be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit to become a holy people—a people who love the King and His Kingdom. This alone is the passion that can lead us through the darkness of our age into a glorious end, “when the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ” (Revelation 11:15).