Finding God in the unexpected journey of being a Police Wife.
When my husband came to me and said he wanted to make a career change my mind never thought he would choose law enforcement. He served a few years in the Army when we first got married and then we moved home and he went to work for my family business. So, when he told me he wanted a career change, I told him I would stand behind him in whatever path he chose. What I didn’t realize was that I would also be stepping into a lifestyle that would stretch my faith in ways I never imagined.
In the beginning, especially the first few months while he was away at training, were some of the longest days/nights of my life. I was at home keeping everything anchored down when my anchor was not here to keep me anchored down. I felt like I was drowning most days due to work and then coming home and still having to do mom duties: homework, supper, bath, ball practice, gymnastics, games, the list just kept going.
There are still long days/nights spent watching the clock, waiting for headlights to pull into the driveway, or not hearing from them in a few hours so you are checking life 360 to see where they are in case something has happened (not that there is anything you can do but it is comforting). Checking their location is comforting until you get the text that they are going into a pursuit and you see the speed; those times I spend in constant prayer until I hear from him.
There are missed holidays, interrupted dinners, canceled plans, doing things alone with the kids, and birthdays celebrated on different days because duty calls first.
Some days, fear whispers louder than faith.
But somewhere along the way, I realized that God never asked me to carry the weight of the badge. He only asked me to trust the one who carries us both.
Being a police wife has taught me that grace isn’t just something we receive. It’s something we choose to give.
Grace when exhaustion makes conversations shorter than we’d like.
Grace when stress follows him home after difficult calls.
Grace when schedules change without warning for the third time that week.
Grace when loneliness creeps into the quiet moments.
The badge can be heavy. It asks so much of the officer wearing it and of the family standing behind them.
Yet, God’s grace is always heavier than our burdens.
I’ve learned that courage isn’t that absence of fear. Sometimes courage is simply saying one more prayer before bed. Sometimes it’s kissing your spouse goodbye, smiling even though your heart feels uncertain, or the breath you let go of when you hear the Velcro of the vest when they are finally home, and trusting God with the rest.
Psalm 46:1 reminds us:
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble”.
That verse has become an anchor for me. Not because life suddenly became easier, but because I finally understood that I was never meant to face it alone.
If you’re a new police wife, or maybe you’ve been one for years, I want you to know something:
It’s okay if this life feels hard.
It’s okay if you miss your spouse.
It’s okay if you’ve cried after they left for shift.
It doesn’t mean your faith is weak.
It means your heart loves deeply.
God sees every goodbye, every silent prayer, every anxious moment, and every joyful homecoming.
His grace covers every shift.
His peace reaches every patrol car.
His love follows every family waiting at home.
So today, if you’re carrying the weight of the badge, don’t carry it by yourself.
Lay it at the feet of the one who never sleeps, never leaves, and never stops watching over those we love.
Because while our spouses wear the badge….
God wears the crown.
With love,
Alyssa
Reflection:
What has being a police wife taught you about trusting God? I’d love to hear your story in the comments. Sometimes the greatest encouragement comes from knowing we’re not walking this road alone.
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