Our Hope in Easter!

 Finding the Evidence of Hope in the Easter Holiday

I write a lot about hope and Easter embodies the very proof of the power of hope! Hope is in the very essence of the renewal of life. Through Christ's death, through the springing up of a new season of growth and change. Hope is evident and alive! It is by hope that we keep going through life. Hope gives us the courage to believe and have faith in the Resurection, the promise of eternal life, and the beauty of life in the present!

"Without hope we cannot go on. Disappointment, tragedy, suffering and pain are a part of this life. They happen to everyone. When the pain is stretched out over a long period of time, depression and despair are a real danger. The enemy stands ready to use those moments to rob us of our joy.

That is why the events of Easter are so important to us. In the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, everything has changed. In the Living Lord we have hope. Not “hope so” akin to wishful thinking, but rock solid hope based upon the power of a sovereign God to keep his promise in every circumstance of life. In the Easter event, we see God at work carrying out his plan to glorify himself by creating a people for himself. Those who place their faith in Jesus Christ are adopted into the family of God. Because of the cross and the empty tomb, we now serve a Heavenly Father who works through every circumstance of life to bring joy and satisfaction to his children." 
© Give Me That Book http://givemethatbook.com/easter-hope/

 The Law Enforcement life can be a difficult one. It is ridden with fear, lonliness, danger, and struggle. But through all of it, hope is evident. Hope is promised because of what our Savior did for us on this Easter Day. Because He chose to die for our sins and give us the gift of eternal life, He in the same way offered and promised us HOPE!

When you feel burdened, when you are overcome with the struggles of this life...remember your hope. Cling to the promise of God's faithfulness. He felt your pain, He endured your heartache. He was forsaken, abused, and hurt.  Mark 15:29-32 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,  come down from the cross and save yourself !"  In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself !  Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

But through all of this, He conquered death and the grave. He offered us a place of eternal safety and hope. In all of your struggles remember He is with you. "And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 18:20

Hope is never lost because all death has been conquered by the Resurection! By overcoming death, hope has won through the promise of no end. Easter is our evidence that no matter how hard our life gets, no matter the pain we endure, the amount of struggle we trudge through...Hope is our promise that our lives will not end in despair. The sacrifice of Jesus and His ultimate power over death gives us the evidence that hope is real and that, in the same way we are given the gift of life, we are given the promise of hope and peace.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

"I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid." John 14:27

I pray you cling to the promise of today and you remember through your struggles, the gift of hope you were given. Enjoy today with hope in the power of Christ in your life! You are loved with an everlasting love, worth dying for, and worth creating a place for your eternal safety and life. Blessings on this Easter Day!

LEOW Life is a Journey

• Do you ever question if you have what it takes to be an LEO's spouse?

• Do you ever wonder why God put you in this 

  role when it doesn't seem like you possess 

  the personality traits needed? 

As I talked with other LEOWs over the last couple months, I realized how normal going through these times are. So many women have shared how the challenges of being an LEO's spouse has them questioning if they really have what it takes. So many of us feel like we weren't naturally wired for some of the things required of us as a LEOW. Some of us may struggle with getting used to the schedule challenges. Some of us question if we are emotionally strong enough to last, or if we can ever find the independance needed to make life "normal".

Some of us find it hard to get used to going about certain situations on our own, sans our LEO. Such as holidays with other family, school events, couples nights with friends, or trips into town to run errands. It's hard for some of us to make plans without our LEO, resulting in feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and sometimes, frustration. 

There are the questions of emotional energy. Can I keep thinking positive as the years go by? Can I stand against my fears and anxieties? Can I put the realities of the job behind me and go about life? When it comes down to it...do I have the strength to keep trying to achieve all this?

What about our marriage? Will it last? What about the badge bunnies or work temptations...things we can't control? Will my LEO change because of the job in a way I don't like? What if he turns into someone I don't know anymore? Where do I fit in all of this?

Some of us are not wired to be extroverted, able to cope with social situations by ourselves. Some of us aren't naturally introverts, able to deal with the isolation that sometimes comes with being an LE family. We have different strengths and weaknesses. Some of us have no problem going to events or holidays by ourselves, while others would rather miss out than brave somewhere alone. Some of us are naturally secure, able to overcome fear and stay positive. Some of us are more naturally negative and struggle with perspective and worry.

No matter how you are wired, no matter what strengths or "weaknesses" you may feel you naturally have, I want to say something to you...

 

Remove the pressure of expectations. Be kind to yourself and remember, life is a journey and the thing that makes us amazing as LEOWs is the ability to adapt, change, and become strong, awesome women and spouses. We are special because of our dedication to overcoming in the ways we aren't naturally wired. We try to adapt in the ways that make us stronger as families and better as individuals.

Nowhere, does it say we have to get this LEOW thing right out of the gate. In no way are any of us expected to know what we are doing as LEOWs right away...if ever! No, one spouse, exists with the whole package and not one of us has an easy time (if we are being truthful.). Learning how to cope with our roles as spouses is a lifelong journey. And a beautiful one if we give ourselves a break.

If you aren't naturally independent, you will learn to be...in time. You will learn ways to keep yourself positive. You will learn what works to keep your thoughts from going "there". You will learn how to go about your day with less worry and more joy. You will learn everything needed...in time.

There will be times of fatigue and mistakes. There will be moments we question and doubt. But we MUST remember our value. When you start to question if you have what it takes, remember your worth. Remember you were set apart for this. You were called to be an LEOW because the Lord set you apart for your LEO. You're going to get this, there is no time limit, and it's going to be a beautiful ride.

So give yourself a break. You are enough, your skills are enough, you will get where you need to be if you keep trying...and it's ok to take the journey to get there. Best yet...it's ok if the journey takes a little while.