Being relational in a very non-relational world can be difficult. Our world has succumbed to communication through electronic communication, the new norm. What happened to the old relational world, where we could sit and converse face to face without a cell phone in that space? It was heartbreaking to see a family the other day out to eat, and they were all staring at their phones, and the relational piece was missing; there was no communication, just eating and looking at what’s going on with the world today, whether it be news or social media. What happened to the sit-down conversations at the table?  

To persevere, according to Webster's Dictionary, is: “to persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking despite counter influences, opposition, or discouragement.” That says a lot. 

What do we do when life comes at us hard? Do we get weary and quit, or do we persevere? Sometimes, we are just going through life when everything is well, and boom, it seems to be goi a life happening occurs. In my case, these “life happenings” would come one after another, as I am sure many can attest to. As a survivor of human trafficking and domestic abuse, there were always things coming at me.

I was at a point in my life where I was feeling truly lost and in the dark, I held on to this family secret for so long. Lost and alone I felt I had no purpose other than to be used and abused by people, for that is my life story.

Trafficked by my parents, I searched for love in all the wrong places, leading me to abusive relationships. I really had no hope for life or trust in humanity or myself at this point. I happened to meet a friend from church who prayed with me and spoke on Trafficking Awareness and how she educates the community, A secret I held on to for way too long and was afraid to speak on, my whole life I was to stay silent not only by them but also the people that had abused me.

We were born into this world with a purpose. But somewhere down the line we have forgotten the true importance of what living life really means. Are we filling our lives with purpose and design God had planted in our hearts since he brought us here on earth or we letting the world consume us? He said he knows you before he formed you in your mother's womb. We were born with purpose, HIS purpose.  

What are you willing to fight for? Do I mean a physical fight, absolutely not, I am talking about what brings you to a place where you are willing to fight for someone that is hurting or something that you know is wrong. What does it take for us to start getting out of our comfort zone and start fighting back?

Isn't that how it is? We get encouraged into a promise God has shown us. We are all prayed up and start taking those steps of faith. The first few weeks we are pumped up, and we continue on our journey. But then life circumstances happen. We face our Red Sea moment. All of our uncertainties of life come rushing in as big as the waves crashing in at us.

This is a question I ask when I go to speak for trafficking awareness and domestic abuse issues. We live in a society that is comfortable staying silent or turning the other way, “it's not my issue” is their mindset. How long will this world be stuck in that mindset? Staying comfortable does not cause change, it is truly when we step out of the comfort zone and say I want to do something about this. Getting uncomfortable in a world that is oversensitive to making everyone else feel safe and not offending anyone is necessary if we want to see change. Will you find it in your heart to be uncomfortable, to stand up and be the voice that speaks out when everyone else wants to stay silent.