Briefing: Like most peace officers, I have had a few near death experiences. I can’t take credit for my reactions but I am so thankful that my first reaction has been to pray or ask God for help. He is my hope in the storm.

Dispatch (Assignment): Read Psalm 77.

On the Street: I was on my way to an officer assist call one, wet, rainy night when I was driving too fast and lost control of my squad car. I spun and slid all over the road until I came to a complete stop, still in the middle of the road. I did not hit anything and did no damage. It is amazing how much praying you can do in such a short amount of time.

“I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands, and my soul refused to be comforted. I remembered you, God, and I groaned; I mused, and my spirit grew faint.”

The writer of this psalm was in dire straits. He was a man in need of a savior! When you find yourself in this kind of situation, do you ever consider the amount of growth you will have after the storm? I have found it to be extremely difficult to focus on anything but the problem at hand, but when I am able to widen my tunnel vision and consider how God may be working through the situation, it is usually very beneficial to my spirit and soul. 2 Corinthians 5:7 tells us, “we live by faith and not by sight.”

Hope during the storm is the key. Hope keeps us anchored when the waves are crashing over us and storm rages. There are sharks in the water just waiting to devour us; we can’t see a way out, we can’t even get our bearing on direction because all we see are huge waves that seem to push and pull us. Our only hope is that the anchor holds.

The anchor keeps us steady. It keeps us from being pushed to places we don’t want to go. The anchor holds us firm until the storm passes. The anchor is the hope we have in Jesus Christ. Hebrews 6:19, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain”

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:1-5.

I know, because of my own experiences, this is why David called God his rock and his refuge. God is our strength when we are weak and our protector when we are under attack. He is the Savior and our strong tower when we need a place to run. He is our anchor and hope. I really don’t understand how people push through this life without Him.

Investigational Resources: The investigational resource for a study on hope in the storm is the Bible. The entire Old and New Testament point to Jesus Christ, our hope.

Officer Safety Principle: It’s all about having a relationship with Christ. If He is not your default in times of great trouble, you need to work on that relationship.

from Psalms Through the Eyes of a Cop, Volume 1
©by Charles Gilliland. Used by permission.
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