Cope

There are a variety of coping mechanisms that are available to us in facing the challenges and troubles of life.  But, not all of these are good for us.  When we choose to deal with our issues using worldly resources, rather than the resources of the Spirit that God makes available, we are cutting ourselves short of the abundant life Jesus has promised to us.  
Consider the words of the Psalmist in Psalm 118 (ESV):
5 Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
    the Lord answered me and set me free.
6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.
    What can man do to me?
7 The Lord is on my side as my helper;
    I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in princes.

A recent CBN.com article profiled the story of a police officer named Marty Breeden.  On The Meeting House on Faith Radio, I have spotlighted the stresses that those who are called to protect and serve face - in law enforcement, as first responders, those who serve in the military, and others.  The article relates:

The overwhelming stress of being a police officer was taking its toll on Marty Breeden. The only way he found to cope was at the bottom of a bottle.

“I mean, I could not put it down. I did not have an off switch when it came to alcohol. I would start drinking, and I would drink into blackness,” said Marty.  

The addiction had destroyed his second marriage of 30 years and alienated Marty from his daughter, making him want to drink all the more.

He said, “It seemed to; to calm my nerves, and it seemed to really help me deal with the cares of life, and it helped me push stuff down that I didn't want to deal with. And I could push it way down with alcohol. But it would be there the next morning, of course.”

Even from a young age, Marty would struggle with fear of dying.  Panic attacks were a part of his life.  But in his time of panic at night, he would hear a voice speaking to him that he recognized as the voice of Jesus speaking peace to Him.  He accepted Jesus as His Savior as a teenager, but the stresses of life and a career in law enforcement resulted in Marty straying from the Lord.

Fast forward now: just over a decade ago, Marty was in his 50's.  And, the alcohol abuse reached a logical step: his body broke down.  He went into A FIB and his lungs were failing. He believes that he left his body and experienced the presence of Jesus; he says: "I was immediately in the presence of the Lord Jesus. And I heard his voice, and I knew it was him because it was that same voice that I had heard as a young child.”

There was no condemnation - there was peace.  And, a mission:  "My church does not really believe that I'm coming back soon."  Marty states: “I was like, 'Lord, yes, we do believe you're coming back soon. We sing about it. We preach about it. We pray about it. We hope for it. Lord, we do believe that you're coming back soon."  He believes the Lord said to him: "My church does not really believe I'm coming back soon, for if they did, they would not be living as they are.”

He was in a coma for three weeks and after six months, was fully recovered.  He left police work in 2018 and, as CBN says, he "continues to share the love of Jesus Christ and the news that he’s coming again."  And, he has never drank alcohol ever since.

Something that really emerged from this story is how God was present in Marty Breeden's life even before he accepted Jesus and was born again.  He knows us and has known us from our mother's womb.  As Debra Elrod, an upcoming guest on the radio show, relates, God is the One who has created us for His purposes, and we have "spiritual DNA" that he intends to use for His glory.  I think some of us can reflect on how we have seen or known the presence of God even before we knew Him - and that He has worked to bring Him to Himself.  He is our Maker, He knows us - and Jesus wants us to know Him.

Also, we can be reminded that the world's ways are insufficient to giving us the full, the satisfying - the abundant life that Jesus makes available to us.  We can consider whether we are going to the world to get our needs met and depending on the One who has already made provision to meet our deepest, innermost needs - in fact, ALL of our needs. I would dare say that most have not heard the voice of God nor had a near-death experience.  But, the reality of the risen Lord is something that we can acknowledge and experience and we can respond to the One who knows us so very well and wants to develop a relationship with Him.