Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Psalms 100:3

Schooled

As I write this devotional, I have just received my retirement date from the police department. On January 28th I will no longer be a sworn police officer and I will once again join society as a civilian. This represents quite a change in my life but I look forward to the next chapter that God has planned for me.

Actually, I am relieved to be stepping down from a job that I was always thankful to have, but that never quite fit my personality type. Government statistics profiled me as the kind of officer most likely to be killed in the line of duty. I’ve always been somewhat non-confrontational, slow to use physical force, and eager to trust and believe in people. I had to work hard to suppress those tendencies over the years, in order to do my job and survive on the street. I look forward to getting back to “Normal,” in the way that I want to relate to people.

So why did God bring me to a job that seemed ill suited for me in so many ways? I definitely gained an expertise in a field that may open many ministry doors for me in the years to come. If God had not directed me to become a police officer, I might have never been ordained or become involved in police chaplaincy. I will always be thankful that He placed me in that position because it has given me immediate credibility in the law enforcement community. I don’t have to struggle with that connection as some of my fellow chaplains say they do. I can now continue to serve others (sworn and civilian), in a way that I never could have before I was involved in law enforcement.

If you are having a hard time understanding God’s plan for you and the reason for your current position or assignment? Take heart in the fact that you might be in school now to prepare you for an exciting future. God loves you and knows your strengths and weaknesses. He wants to use you in a way that will not only be best for you, but will also best serve His purposes in the lives of others.

God’s curriculum for your life may not always make immediate sense to you. Stay in school and the day you graduate, you will see His continued plan for your life.

Yours in Christ,

Chaplain Brad Green