We live in a world where people buy and sell other people
And we live in a world where entire countries deem it ‘okay’:
Where people buying and selling other people is apart of normal everyday life
But it’s far from okay, it’s slavery and it not only still exists but it’s a rapidly growing industry
Sex trafficking is something that the Lord has recently been breaking my heart for more and more. It’s one of the reasons I felt called to the race. I was excited about the connections to ministries working in countries where sex trafficking is so prominent.
Now here I am, on the race, in Thailand, living in the center of the red light district. But walking down the streets the very first night, seeing these women that my heart hurts for sell themselves right in front of me, my body went numb and I lost my excitement for ministry.
It’s been a few days since my first raw encounter with the reality of sex trafficking but God has been faithful to remind me that He is bigger than this huge social and spiritual fault in our world , and He is still present in even the darkest places.
I spent the majority of today walking the streets that numbed me the first night praying over the city, over the bars, for the women, and for the johns. When I started my prayer walk my heart was heavy and so full of sadness,, I wanted to fight against it but I realized that God was allowing me to feel those things. He’s slowly breaking my heart for what breaks His, and by allowing my heart to feel immense sadness and allowing my body to go numb He’s given me a small window into what these women feel each and every day. And I’m grateful for it, it shows me how to love them better.
When I saw the men who were at these bars to buy women, I filled with disgust and anger, and immediately I knew I was so wrong. I am called to be filled with love for those men, as much love as I have for the women. This month I will continually humble myself because I am in no lesser or greater need for Jesus than these men. My sin is no less than theirs, and the love Jesus has for them is no less than the love He has for me.
I walked away from today feeling empowered and encouraged. God has saved me, He has redeemed me, and He has taught me that I am full of beauty and worth, that I am His daughter and His love is unchanging.
He has trusted me to be a vessel that pours out He’s love, radiates His light, and shares His hope. That’s a pretty incredible blessing.
Today God taught me that these women whose bodies are bought desperately need to hear the message that the prices these men pay for them do not define their worth.
The ultimate price has been paid for them and they are worth so much that their father would send his only son to die in their place.
This is a message worth traveling to the other side of the world to share.
