Deceitful Wolves
What a shame it is that women must rely on others for safety in public. What a shame it is that women are petrified to walk to their cars after a late shift. What a shame it is that women feel terror and have to be overly alert while participating in normal talks.
As much as I find discontent in the circumstances many women deal with in their daily lives, there is little I can achieve to fix such a widespread issue. Rather than complain about the missing Indigenous women and the abundance of tolerance towards sexual offenders, I believe spreading awareness of the strategies of sexual traffickers would be far more beneficial.
Matthew 10:16 states: “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and as harmless as doves.”
As sheep, we are vulnerable to the wolves of the world. The wolves who see our own bodies as theirs. The wolves who will manipulate us to be in their control. The wolves who see no issue in the objectification and sexualization of our bodies. Little can be done in our power to heal these broken people who are so dangerous to our wellbeing. Rather, we shall be as “shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.”
The wolves of the world initially come across as charming and charismatic. We must act with intelligence and wariness to discern between a genuinely kind man or a hidden wolf. Do not trust any strangers. Although this may sound like an overstatement, it is necessary to keep you safe. While you may have rejected an old man asking for help or another glancing at you creepily, the issue of sex trafficking extends to all types of people.
Many men use women—friends of theirs or perhaps girls they have previously kidnapped—to reel you in. If a woman is begging you for help while you are alone, take a step back. You must judge whether she is genuinely in trouble or forced to be bait. Look around for any men watching the conversation so intently that they might even be included in it.
They may be sitting in nearby cars as well. Is the woman looking around a lot, or does she seem fidgety? She may be a victim. Are you alone and feel as if an adult would better handle this situation? They see you as vulnerable. The ability to discern between what is real and what is a trap is vital to your safety. If you are in a similar situation and you answer yes to my preceding questions, you could be in danger. Rather than following the woman, find a person of authority or a physically fit adult, preferably a male. They can not only protect you from harm, but also assist the woman with what she may truly need or save her from a dangerous trafficker.
Personally, it is difficult for me to find deeper contexts and write about the wisdom of God while raising awareness for sex trafficking. While it is extremely eye-opening and beneficial to your walk with Christ, I feel it is a pressing matter to educate on the strategies used by sex traffickers so you will not find yourself in a life-threatening situation. Please be careful, be strong, be courageous, and be wise. Your body is yours. Do not let anyone change that.
Written by Caroline G.
