This week's Bible study both stands alone and serves as a follow-up to last week's. It also comes to you with a prayer that it will be a great encouragement to you.
The all-too-real truth is that we are a hurting and often dysfunctional profession (as exhibited by our high rates of divorce, suicide, alcoholism, depression, PTSd and more). Despite the fact that we are part of a truly
God-ordained profession
, few understand the true source of our authority and that perhaps only one in twenty (best guess) have a genuine, saving faith in Jesus Christ (and why, in part, this ministry exists). Praise God, our Lord has both "the" plan for our lives and the prescription -- with no negative side effects -- for defeating discouragement!
Discouragement is a very real part of life - including the Christian's life - and in our profession in particular (especially in today's environment). But unlike the unbeliever, God presents REAL encouragement, real hope and real solutions to those who have surrendered to Him in faith. Let's open our Bibles (thus wielding the sword -- Ephesians 6:17) and dig in, starting with:
John 16:33
--
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
2
Corinthians 4:16 --
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
John Bunyan was born in England in 1628. He received little schooling, but became a deacon in a Baptist church when he was 27 years-old and immediately saw success as a preacher. Because at that time it was illegal to preach without a license from the government (part of why many fled to the "New World" -- America), and Bunyan belonged to an illegal denomination, he spent a total of 12 years in prison before dying at age 60. Bunyan wrote his most famous book,
Pilgrim's Progress,
while in prison. It is an allegory meant to illustrate the difficulties faced by Christians. Pilgrim's Progress tells the story of a man named Christian who is on his way to the Celestial City. In their travels, Christian and his companion are captured by a giant named Despair and locked away in a castle called the "Doubting Castle." The giant starves his prisoners and beats them every day, trying to make Christian and Hopeful commit suicide. Finally, Christian remembers he has a key tucked in his clothes. The key is called Promise. Christian and his companion use the key to unlock their chains and escape the giant and his castle.
So what is this key (Promise)?
Bunyan shows how Christians can be captured and imprisoned by discouragement and doubt, but that discouragement can be overcome by remembering who God is and what He has promised in His word.
Let's look next at 1 Samuel 30:6 (KJV) -- "
And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God."
Folks, for us who have been
born again in Christ (
John 3:1-21), this is a
VICTORY VERSE but also also a warning: it can seem e
asier to stay in discouragement than to battle and get out of it. But staying there leads to despair, and despair to depression, and from depression to paralysis (shut down).
Our Old Testament forebears were no strangers to discouragement. For example, fellow "cop" Nehemiah was most familiar with overcoming (through God) incredible discouragement. Accordingly, here are seven powerful points (a Bible teacher has to share points in his message -- LOL) we can take from
Nehemiah 4 (and related passages) to help us overcome and have victory over discouragement:
(1)
Expect discouragement (verses 1-3): Discouragement, opposition and criticism are in fact all-too-common themes for those of us dealing with the stuff we face in law enforcement (and life in general), including false complaints, bad supervisors and a general lack of courageous servant-leadership. In fact, our Lord tells His faithful (Christians as He defines it) that we can expect it!
- Turn to Mark 4:35-41 -- Here our Savior illustrates being in God's will despite the storms in our lives by going to the "other side" and literally sleeping (resting) in the midst of a raging storm. Likewise, we can rest in the knowledge that we as born again believers will in fact cross over to the "other side" (ultimately heaven) no matter what is thrown at us in this life!
(2)
Pray (verses 4-5): The less you pray, the greater the discouragement. Don't stop praying! Cry out to God! Talk to Him throughout your day. Ask for clarity, peace, comfort and yes, victory in accordance with His will (always His will).
- Jeremiah 33:3 -- Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.
(3) Wield the sword (verses
9, 13, 18): S
tudy and apply the the Word of God! Memorize Scripture. Write down passages on cards. Use your Bible app. Have a DAILY time of Bible study.
- Psalm 42:5 (Good News Translation) -- Why am I so sad? Why am I so troubled? I will put my hope in God, and once again I will praise him, my Savior and my God.
(4)
Know your weaknesses and armor up against them (verse 13):
- Don't go to bars (for example) or hang out with folks who want to buy you a drink to help you "drown" your sorrows. Drowning is never a good thing. Rather, you need to be in regular fellowship with other mature believers who will hold you up (why we come together in our FCPO chapters, and why going to church is not "optional").
- Again, ask God, in prayer and the study of His Word, to empower you to resist and flea from those things that get you into trouble and discouragement (Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. -- James 4:7)
(5) NEVER
quit (verse 14): If you quit, you lose! It's time to fight! Never surrender! Fight for your marriage, fight for your kids, fight for our profession, fight for your brethren, fight for those you lead (serve). Suicide, of course, is an example of quitting. But suicide s
olves nothing and leaves others hurt and wracked with pain and guilt. There is NOTHING heroic or victorious about suicide. Paul, in prison and in the midst of his own discouragement and looming execution, writes, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7)
(6) Call for backup (verse
18):
We are all about helping each other. Don't isolate yourself. Call for help. Wait for your backup - we're coming. Don't make important decisions in the midst of despair and discouragement. Don't quit your job; don't move; etc. without consulting your "cover." Remember that our common enemy wants to isolate us.
- FCPO chapter fellowship involvement.
- Church (get involved/serve, get connected...)
- Don't wait for someone to reach out to you - rather YOU reach out to them (us).
- You have my email...my cell is 720-371-1022 -- reach out!
- "Backup" resources
- Proverbs 14:10 -- The heart knows its own bitterness, and a stranger does not share its joy.
- Proverbs 18:1 -- A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise judgment.
- Psalm 40:1-3 -- I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay [ask that that is...explain], and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth- praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord.
(7) Vigilance (verses 21-23):
Don't let your guard down! Stay alert and in the fight . Spiritually speaking, stay in "Condition Yellow" (those of us in LE are called to be sheepdogs and not the sheep we are called to serve and protect).
- Re-read Lt. Col. Dave Grossman's (a believer) powerful essay that I share in the opening line of EVERY one of these newsletters: On Sheep, Sheepdogs and Wolves. Then EMBRACE your God-ordained calling, both naturally and spiritually.
- 1 Peter 5:8-10 (NLT) -- Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters[a] all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. 10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.
Amen? There is so much more I could share here, but this is a great start. Clearly, taking COURAGE is key to defeating discouragement.
Finally, understand that this prescription applies ONLY to believers -- those who have in fact been born again in Christ and thus have the Holy Spirit residing within them. Is that you? Are you sure? If not, I again implore you to consider the following:
