Leave

“I’m fine. I just fell off my bunk,” stated a worried face in front of me, as the unit’s deputy stood nearby.

“You have to tell me now. This is your chance to really make yourself away from harm. If you didn’t understand me the first time, I want to ask you again, is there someone in your unit threatening you or wanting to hurt you in any way?” I repeated.

Silence…

“Sir, this is the last time I’m going to ask you. I can’t find anything wrong with you medical-wise. You complained of pain here and there. But there were not enough symptoms to pinpoint the cause…,”

“Yes, there is someone threatening me,” his words cutting off what I was saying above.

“I’m glad you finally told me. I can’t help you with that but I can have the deputy help you by having you leave that unit and be moved to another safer unit,” I replied.

I pulled over the deputy to one corner and let him know what the inmate told me. He nodded and thanked me. He made the inmate get up and he said “thank you” to me.

I knew he wouldn’t worry anymore. At least for the meantime. The threats would always be there somewhere. But it would be devastating not to be able to leave that situation if he didn’t become honest with my queries.

Prisoners who had been there in the jail sometimes try to intimidate newer ones. Sometimes, they threaten these weak ones so they can use them for their own selfish agenda. Like delivering illegal things, shanks, even drugs. They might use them to steal other inmates’ stuff for their own supply or use. They threaten the weaklings because they know they are too weak to avoid them and if they ever tell anyone from custody staff, the predators instill fear in them that they would end up getting hurt if they don‘t listen to their demands.

After a few minutes, I checked the housing location for that inmate I saw. He was already moved. I could only pray…for his safety and temporary refuge.

Our spiritual enemies are constantly bombarding us with his wily threats. He is so active in throwing those darts of temptations and they all come in subtle ways. However, if we are not careful and are not able to stay away from them, it could be costly with our own spiritual walks with the Lord.

[Please silence my playlist]:




Proverbs 3:25-26 - “You need not be afraid of disaster or destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.”

1 Corinthians 10:13 - “But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.”

1 Timothy 6:9 - “But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.”

Hebrews 2:18 - “Since he himself has gone through suffering and temptation, he is able to help us when we are being tempted.”

James 4:7 - “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”