Shielded

Being self-sufficient might look admirable from the outside, but Scripture makes it very clear. Isolation is exhausting. Ecclesiastes chapter four reminds us that the solo act is a miserable task. That might not be how we describe it in the next team meeting, but we all know what it feels like. We show up.

We're doing all the things, but it starts to wear on us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We start wondering, "Who am I doing this for?" And just like that, purpose starts leaking out of us like a cracked baby bottle in a church nursery bag. Here's a good reminder. None of us is meant to hold the line alone.

 Nehemiah chapter 4 opens with wonderful progress in Jerusalem. The wall was halfway re-built, and the people had a mind to work. The vision was coming to life. So of course, that means cue the resistance from neighboring communities who preferred the dysfunction exactly as it was. But I think that when we get pushback, it often confirms that we're doing something worthwhile.

When we start building safer spaces for people to meet with God or just a safer space in a really troubled time in an individual's life, when we establish healthy boundaries and welcoming environments, there's going to be some disruption, and that's normal. We're going to get complaints from people who just don't get it, and I know from my own experience that that can be so discouraging. 

So take heart in Nehemiah's success. He made a secure wall, and a safe place for people to meet with God.

Authority can trip us up, security and law enforcement both, because we're not really in charge. We're under orders. The chief shepherd is already there wherever we are. A sheriff enforces the law of the land with authority and consequence because power comes from that badge. People comply because they have to.

But a shepherd, they protect with love and lead by example. Influence flows from character and genuine care, and people will follow them because they want to. Both matter and both are important. But those of us that are policing God's house, we're shepherding with hearts of love, not just with a badge Jesus had every right to lord his authority over people. He was literally God incarnate. But how did he lead? He washed feet. He welcomed children. He ate with sinners. He said, "Come to me, all you who are weary." Jesus could have demanded compliance, but instead he chose to invite participation. That's shepherd leadership.

If you fly often, you might be tempted to tune out the safety demonstration that happens before takeoff. But I just love the part where the flight attendants remind everyone that if the oxygen masks drop, you have to put your own on first.

Why? Because if you don't, you won't be of any use to anybody else. To take care of others like we do, you have to take good care of yourself first. We live in a world that's obsessed with so-called self-care. Bubble baths, binge-watching, and buying that latte because... Well, because they're delicious, but I'm getting off track here a little bit.

Don't get me wrong, I will never turn down a good candle and some quiet time. But what our souls need more of isn't just self-care. It's soul care, a steady rhythm of returning to God's presence, being reminded who we are and who He is, and letting His Word speak louder than the world's noise. Our ability to lead, love, forgive, stand firm, speak up with grace, or step back when wisdom calls--it all begins with the condition of our hearts. 

Emmett Rhodes might just be one of the most talented people that you've never heard of. This guy was absolutely incredible. He wrote all his own songs, he played every single instrument on his albums, sang all the vocals, and he recorded everything himself in his home studio. Talk about a one-man show. He literally did it all, and he did it brilliantly.

But here's the thing, just because you can do everything doesn't mean you should. Do you ever feel that pressure on the job or at church? Like we're supposed to be the answer or have the answer for every safety concern, every crisis, and every faith question that walks through our doors? It's good to remember that what we really need to do is stay connected to the One who really does have all the answers.

Psalm 84 paints this gorgeous picture of what life looks like when we make God our home base: "Blessed are those whose strength is in You, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage." Whether we ever set foot in the actual Israel or not, we're all on this journey toward deeper connection with Him. And every Sunday, every shift we work, every quiet prayer we whisper behind the scenes—we're helping clear the path for someone else to take their next step on that journey.

We're not just holding doors and scanning parking lots. We're holding space. Sacred space. Space for people to ugly-cry during worship without worrying about judgment. Space for them to raise their hands in surrender without fear of ridicule. Space for them to be completely known and still be completely welcomed.

That's holy work, people. And it's definitely not for the faint of heart.

There will come a time for each of us, just like it did for the first disciples, when we find ourselves surrounded by the metaphorical wolves of this world. And honestly, if we're doing our work right, we're probably encountering them more often than most people.

Jesus was telling his team, Hey guys, you are gonna get dragged into court, beaten up and face off against powerful people who might want you dead. Any questions? Not exactly the kind of job description that gets people lining up, right? He prepared them for the worst case scenario because he loved them too much to let them walk into danger unprepared.

I'm one of those people who could sit and stare at a campfire or a set of flickering candles just for hours. There's something about that dancing light and that soft little crackling sound that just seems to melt my stress away. But flames aren't exactly comforting for everyone, and that makes me think about Isaiah watching an angel coming at him with a burning coal. That would terrify me! But God, in his incredible mercy, used that burning coal from the altar to cleanse Isaiah instead of consume him.

That same Jesus who walked through the literal fire with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego walks through our fires with us today. Let's connect this up to the kind of work that we do week in and week out. We're in positions where we might have to make split second decisions about people's safety. We might have to confront situations that really make us uncomfortable. We might have to stand up to authority figures who are crossing lines they should not be crossing. Sometimes our calling puts us in the fire. And we need to remember that we're not in there alone.

Jesus calls Himself both "the Gate for the Sheep" and "the Good Shepherd," and honestly, both descriptions nail what we do. Think about gates for a minute—they've got two jobs. When they're shut, they keep out thieves, troublemakers, and anything else that has no business being there.

When they're open, they invite everyone who's seeking refuge and life to enter. That's us in a nutshell: standing watch to keep danger out while warmly welcoming those who come to worship.

Jesus warns about people who "climb in by another way"—predators who put serious effort into finding ways to harm the flock. And let me tell you, Jesus wasn't kidding when He said wicked people are "industrious" in their efforts to cause harm. But here's the beautiful part: Jesus also promises that His sheep know His voice. In a world absolutely saturated with false shepherds, distractions, and straight-up noise, God's people are drawn to truth. Part of what we do is create an environment where His voice can cut through all the chaos and be heard clearly.

Let me ask you something. Have you ever pulled traffic duty for an event? Oh, the joys of standing in a parking lot with a reflective vest trying to convince people that yes, you do know what you're doing, and no, they can't just park wherever they please. Drivers aren't paying attention. Shocking, I know.

Bad weather turns everything into a slippery mess, conflicting directions from well-meaning volunteers can lead to frustration and sometimes even full-blown road rage right there in the parking lot. Because nothing says Christian Love like honking at the lady trying to help you find a parking spot, right?

Providing a safe atmosphere for events involves way more than good access control, and having plenty of those orange traffic wands that make us look so official. But let's be real. Not everyone sees what we see or knows what we know, which means we need way more than tactical training in reflective gear.

We need to earn the reputation of being the place for hurting people to come.

We can learn a lot from Paul's description of the "Man of Lawlessness": when he shows up (whenever that is), he'll consider himself above all law and completely without responsibility to others. He'll worship power instead of serving God, and he'll serve himself instead of serving others. Sound familiar?

We might not know who the ultimate Man of Lawlessness will be, but we've definitely seen people who fit this profile. Satan isn't called the Father of Lies for his charming personality. Anyone who embodies this lawless spirit will worship themselves—doing whatever they want to get whatever they want, not caring about consequences. 

So here's our wake-up call: this lawlessness doesn't always show up with a gun. Sometimes it walks around wearing a smile and carrying a Bible. Be on the lookout for weapons of emotional abuse, spiritual manipulation, high-control tactics, and other threats that can devastate our people just as effectively as physical violence. Our job isn't just about stopping the obvious bad guys (though we absolutely rock at that)! We're also standing guard against the subtle destroyers, the ones who use God's name to justify ungodly behavior, who twist Scripture to control and manipulate, who prey on the vulnerable under the guise of ministry.

Protectors keep people physically safe, but we're also called to be spiritually and emotionally strong, building people up in whatever ways we can. We're not just protecting bodies, we're protecting hearts and spirits too.

God asks us to reach people, and people come with baggage. Lots of baggage, messy, complicated. Sometimes downright exhausting baggage.

We need God's supernatural endurance and encouragement to be able to tackle those problems, and really, if we're being brutally honest, to respond to our own hot messes as well. We need to be able to look at people with love instead of rolling our eyes. Of course, our natural inclination is to be suspicious.

We see potential problems often before we see potential ministry opportunities. It is literally in our DNA. But here's what I've learned. If we can shift that perspective, if we can start seeing problems as chances for ministry. We don't just help others. We get front row seats to see God's glory in action.

As first responders and security people, we're wired to handle everything ourselves first and ask questions later. It's literally in our DNA to assess, respond, and protect. But sometimes we face storms that are bigger than our tactical training, our situational awareness, and our carefully crafted emergency procedures combined.

The disciples were competent professionals who got blindsided by something beyond their expertise. Sound familiar? The difference is, they had the good sense to turn to the One who could actually do something about it. 

God is not just on our side—He's actively working through our service. Our Savior doesn't just want to calm our storms; He's standing ready to do it the moment we stop trying to white-knuckle our way through everything alone.

This is Shielded- short, weekly devotions where faith meets the frontline. Hosted by church security advocate, Lori Morrison who talks about the calling police and security personnel have answered and the God who stands watch with us.

Every week we're gonna tackle something real, something you've been thinking about at 2:00 AM or you've processed on your drive home. We'll dig into scripture. We'll get practical, and we'll make sure that you are staying spiritually sharp, not just tactically ready.

Lock and Load Shepherd. Our people need us at full strength.