Hope for Police Officers
Your Job requires great Courage.
Whether they appreciate it or not, the Public Needs you. They need the love of God too.
Amos 5:24 KJV
[24] But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.
Police officers have an incredibly challenging job.
Interactions with citizens, coworkers, supervisors can wear you down.
Coupled with stress and long hours, cops can feel underappreciated and discouraged.
Where do they find hope to avoid bitterness or burnout?
Written by award-winning author and police chaplain, Tez Brooks,
this message offers hope to officers desiring to make a difference within their circles of influence as they walk out their faith.
Tez Brooks | YouVersion
The world is filled with citizens who can recall that special police officer who impacted their life in a positive manner.
The officer who encouraged the fearful, defended those stripped of safety, or brought comfort to those feeling victimized.
Hope for Police Officers
The Call
As a role model, your character must be above reproach. Yet every day, you’re faced with decisions that test your moral convictions and integrity.
As a former law enforcement officer and a police chaplain I understand you face many challenges as a cop.
I get it, I’ve been there.
Underappreciated, you deal with high pressure, shift work, and people who hate you.
Yet, you chose this career because you have a love for keeping the peace.
Easier jobs don’t provide the satisfaction you gain from watching over your city and helping the public feel safe.
So, you press on in spite of the dangers.
Jesus himself loved justice (Luke 18:7-8) and knows what you’re going through.
Whether it feels this way or not, your job is a calling. It takes a unique individual to fill the role of a cop.
As a role model, your character must be above reproach.
Yet every day, you’re faced with decisions that test your moral convictions and integrity.
Be encouraged, you’re not alone—even Christ was tempted.
Following his example, you too can resist the urge to compromise, remaining the man or woman for whom your city can be proud.
The world is filled with citizens who can recall that special police officer who impacted their life in a positive manner.
The officer who encouraged the fearful, defended those stripped of safety, or brought comfort to those feeling victimized.
You have a gift that can bring glory to God, and as 1 Peter 4:10 says, it must be used.
God has given you a lot of power to make a lasting change in hundreds of individuals.
With His help and hope, you can make a lasting impression in someone’s life today.
Psalm 82:4 KJV
[4] Deliver the poor and needy: Rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
Hope for Police Officers
The Public
The people in your patrol sector can be challenging.
They test your patience, rebel against your authority, and hurt others—and that’s only the law-abiding citizens.
The criminals are worse.
It seems you can never let your guard down, lest people take you for a pushover.
Interacting so often with those of low moral standards makes you skeptical of everyone’s motives.
It changes you in ways others may not appreciate.
But you’re not doing this for human approval. Galatians 1:10 reminds us God is the only one you need to worry about.
Still, no doubt there are times you wonder if it’s worth it.
Perhaps changing to another city would be easier—maybe even a different career altogether.
Your job requires great courage.
In John 15:13, Jesus says there’s no greater love than to lay down his life for another.
That’s what you do every single day, even for those who despise you and all for which your department stands.
Whether they appreciate it or not, the public needs you.
They need the love of God too.
You may not be allowed to directly present the gospel to people or take the valuable time it requires.
But You can, however, ask God to give you creative ideas for communicating his truth and love to the citizens you protect.
Ask the Lord to help you model this, even amid your exhortation and commands.
What a wonderful thought to realize the Lord has hand-picked you for this job.
God has given you hope for each day’s assignment.
Rest in the knowledge that he’s equipped and trained you for this difficult role.
He will protect you.
What will you do today to strategically integrate God’s truth into your role as a keeper of the law?
Hope for Police Officer
The Co-Workers
Everyone knows about the brotherhood among officers.
Cops stick up for each other and this courtesy extends beyond city and state lines, even overseas.
Your brothers and sisters in uniform have your back. But that doesn’t always mean you get along with everyone.
Things are said to each other that aren’t always kind or politically correct.
Some of your co-workers can be critical jerks, some are lazy, others seem to continually place their fellow officers in danger.
In these days of civil unrest and prejudice against cops, it’s hard to stand behind those who keep making bad choices.
But we can’t expect perfection from everyone.
We all make mistakes.
So, placing others’ needs before your own as God’s Word instructs, is not only humbling—it’s hard.
Especially when your colleague has offended you or made your occupation look bad.
The Golden Rule of Matthew 7:12 is a wonderful guideline when you’re mistreated or misjudged by other officers.
Jesus instructs us to treat others like we desire to be treated.
The first chapter of James tells us to ask for wisdom, and it will be given.
Often wisdom shows itself best when we keep our lips closed.
Ephesians 4:29 instructs us to respond with words of grace.
Swallowing our pride and turning the other cheek is part of God’s plan for you during times of conflict.
That’s hard amid criticism, but doable with the Holy Spirit’s help.
The Lord is faithful to instill you with hope.
Ask him to help you respond in grace this week, when dealing with difficult personalities.
Proverbs 22:24-25 KJV
[24] Make no friendship with an angry man; And with a furious man thou shalt not go:
[25] Lest thou learn his ways, And get a snare to thy soul.
Hope for Police Officers
The Brass
Officers have a lot of people to answer to.
Whether it’s your commanding officer, citizens, or city hall, there are a lot of entities dictating what you can and can’t do.
Romans 13:1 tells us to obey the authorities he’s placed over us.
But during my days as an officer, I remember policies being created by people who had no training or experience in law enforcement.
Coupled with a non-biblical worldview, some protocols even opposed my faith principles.
Yet, if we believe God has our best interests in mind, we can trust him.
He has a plan, purpose, and reason for putting certain influencers in place.
This doesn’t mean we should blindly comply when something violates our moral convictions.
Like Queen Esther, sometimes we must take a stand.
But short of that, obeying our leaders is a command we cannot ignore.
In fact, obeying commands without question is critical for a police department to run effectively.
While these individuals or groups might be your earthly authorities, the Lord is your ultimate leader.
Psalm 32:8 says he will instruct you in the way you should go. Doesn’t this fill you with hope?
God is bigger than any conundrum.
Will you trust him today for wisdom?
Will you trust him to guide your responses and reactions to those he’s placed over you?
Romans 13:1-2 KJV
[1] Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
[2] Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Hope for Police Officers
The Trauma
Most people don’t understand the life of a first responder.
Critical incidents occur all the time in your occupation.
Officer-involved shootings, traffic fatalities, hostage negotiations, sex trafficking, suicides, murder, and more.
Most times, law enforcement personnel are expected to cope and move on.
Sadly, you can appear weak to your supervisors and colleagues if you seek counsel in dealing with traumatic events.
Yet, untreated, post-traumatic stress causes individuals to resort to unhealthy coping mechanisms to alleviate anxiety.
If you are a Christ-follower, you are not immune to trauma. But you do have hope according to God’s Word.
John 15:26 assures us the Holy Spirit is our advocate.
We need never bear our problems alone.
Peter reminds us that God cares and wants us to place our worries at God’s feet (1 Peter 5:7).
Like a mother eagle, God’s wings cover you and protect you from danger.
The promise of Psalm 91 says God will protect us from terrors of the night [criminals] and arrows that fly by day [bullets].
Biblical counselling is a wonderful resource, and mixed with prayer, time in the Word,
and the Holy Spirit’s comfort, your healing and recovery can be far greater than you can imagine.
Admit your total dependency on Christ today and receive the hope you need to face each day as a first responder.
Hope for Police Officers
The Homefront
Before I left my career in law enforcement to go into full-time ministry, I recall how often I brought home my problems.
I would treat my wife and children like criminals, interrogating and assuming the worst.
It was killing my marriage and shutting down any relationship with my kids.
I had to change. That wasn’t easy, because enforcing rules was in my blood.
Even now, 20 years later I can fall back into those old patterns if I’m not careful.
Law enforcement personnel have one of the highest divorce and suicide rates of any occupation.
It’s no wonder.
Depression, stress, control issues, aggression—they all play a role in tearing apart relationships.
Satan wants nothing more than to destroy your life and separate you from family and friends.
Whether you are married or single doesn’t matter.
The devil is out to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). But Christ comes to bring life and life more abundant!
If you ask, God will help you demonstrate love that is patient, kind, able to bear all things, believe all things, and endure all things (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
When we allow the Lord to help us leave our job at the front door, like Ephesians 5 instructs,
we can begin to love our spouse like Christ and prevent our children from resenting us (Ephesians 6:4).
Through the power of the Holy Spirit you can model Christ’s love to your spouse, children, parents, roommates, or whoever spends time with you outside of work.
Allow Jesus to occupy the throne of your heart and take control of your attitudes and responses.
He is your only hope for lasting change and a solid, loving family life.
Hope for Police Officers
The Burnout
As we’ve earlier in this message, the call to serve and protect is rewarding but not without challenges.
It’s vital to your mental health to take time to refresh and reboot.
The lack of personnel, constant exposure to crime, and hyper-diligence all wear on your nerves.
When do you get time for physical, mental, and spiritual renewal?
This predicament is compounded with personal or family responsibilities.
Think about it, every day you pour yourself into your job.
Who pours into you?
It’s vital you follow Christ’s example (Luke 5:16) and take time away to restore your soul.
Even Jesus knew when to withdraw and be ministered to.
Only then could he return to ministry revived and ready to face the world.
You have an important role in society.
It’s the unique function of keeping the peace, a job we cannot do without.
Yet the attrition factor for law enforcement reveals something sad.
Due to increased scrutiny and low morale, in 2021, a study by the Police Executive Research Forum of nearly 200 departments revealed a 45% increase in retirement.
On average, many new recruits only last 2 years. Most of these officers were unable to recharge, resulting in occupational burnout.
As you interact with the public, co-workers, and supervisors, remember this:
if you are to be a light in this dark world, take time daily to be re-filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).
It’s vital to attend a local church, join a small group Bible study, and surround yourself with godly people who can speak into your life.
But most importantly, spend time drawing close to and gaining strength from your Savior, your comfort and hope.
Only then will you be able to deal with burnout, making a difference in this world.
Whatever your role, do what you can to instruct, encourage, challenge, and confront in the power of the Holy Spirit,
then leave the results to God.
Also Read: Only God Sees and Knows the Heart of Every Human Being – Diademng (thediademng.org)
Hope for Police Officers
For more encouragement for first responders, get a copy of Tez’s latest book, “Debriefing: Meditations of Hope for Those Who Protect and Serve”
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