I've struggled to know how I can help! And even in the small ways I have, I still feel like it doesn't make a difference. And I'm desperate to do MORE! But I feel so small, so insignificant in this fight!
Today is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day!
800,000 people a year are illegally trafficked across international borders against their will- HALF of them are children!
These women have been deceived by good-sounding opportunities, then enslaved into a life of horror. Or they've been stolen. Or they've been sold by their families.
Every 2-4 years, the world looks away from a
female victim count on the scale of the Jewish Holocaust, as 114-200
million women go “demographically missing”!
Children are born into this life and raised by pimps and owners to
continue the business. They are not shown any affection, so they will
never know love! Even babies are sold and abused! And our own children here in the US are kidnapped and trafficked- never to be found!
The FBI estimates that of our own children here in the US, born and bred American citizens, 100,000-300,000 are missing- they are trafficked and exploited!
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Every personal story I read and human trafficking news report I hear, hurts my heart...
Yes, there has been so many good things happening to fight human trafficking and there are some wonderful stories of rescue and healing, but there is still so much to be done! We've just scratched the surface!
There are so many days that I feel the weight of the suffering... I try to imagine their lives and feel their despair. I squeeze my kids a little tighter as I wipe tears away, trying to turn my mind away from the horror that other children endure because I just can't bear it!
And I think about God. He actually can see and feel their suffering.
And I struggle to understand why God allows this kind of horrific abuse in millions of peoples lives.
But its pulled be closer to the heart of God, as I spend much time in prayer for them- all the trafficked and sexually enslaved women and children around the world!
Because of them, I want to know Him better and how He feels about human suffering.
I want to look through His eyes and feel through His heart!
The Lord has used Psalm 10 as a source of comfort whenever I'm burdened with the injustices of the world's suffering- whether human trafficking, abortion, the orphan crisis etc
{You can read the whole Psalm here}
I ask "Lord why do you stand so far away?
Why do you hide in time of trouble?
Rise up Lord God!
Lift up your hand.
Do not forget the afflicted." (vs 1, 12)
Even to the evil man, it seems like he's getting away with it!
"In arrogance, the wicked relentlessly pursue the afflicted.
He boasts in his own cravings, and curses and despises the Lord.
In all his scheming, the wicked arrogantly thinks:
'There is no accountability, since God does not exist' ...
He waits in ambush... he kills the innocent in secret...His eyes are on the lookout for the helpless..." (vs 2-4, 8-9)
This is why I love this Psalm! Here is the comfort:
That God DOES hear our prayer and DOES care about the oppressed, and He HAS the power to bring evil men to justice... and one day He WILL!
But You Yourself have seen trouble and grief,
observing it in order to take the matter into Your hands.
The helpless entrusts himself to You;
You are a helper of the fatherless.
observing it in order to take the matter into Your hands.
The helpless entrusts himself to You;
You are a helper of the fatherless.
Break the arm of the wicked and evil person;
call his wickedness into account
until nothing remains of it.
call his wickedness into account
until nothing remains of it.
The Lord is King forever and ever;
the nations will perish from His land.
the nations will perish from His land.
Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble;
You will strengthen their hearts.
You will listen carefully,
You will strengthen their hearts.
You will listen carefully,
doing justice for the fatherless and the oppressed
so that men of the earth may terrify them no more.
so that men of the earth may terrify them no more.
(Psalm 10: 14-18)
As we continue to create awareness of human trafficking today and throughout the year, let's not forget the One Who ultimately has the power to rescue- not only to save from physical enslavement, but also from spiritual enslavement!
And as I stay faithful in prayer to our All-Powerful, Compassionate, Loving God, and know that I can trust Him for their lives, I also pray that He will continue to show me how I can make a difference in this fight for the freedom and healing of so many precious lives!
To learn more about Human Trafficking, and how you can get involved in the fight,
Thank you so much for this! God has put a big burden on my heart for those trapped in sex trafficking, as well. I really, really want to do something! It's wonderful to see others with the same heart.
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