Josh, a lieutenant in a fire department, loves rescuing lives. But the job is not without its dark days. During many of his runs, he and his crew had to cut children out of burning cars or drag the badly burned bodies of kids from buildings. The memories haunt him. Sometimes he tries not to look at the faces of the victims.

“It’s like scars in your head. It’s like every bad memory stays there, and you can recall everything,” Josh says.

Responding to God’s Messages of Peace

First responders put their lives on the line for others every day. But while they are rescuing others, they may need rescuing themselves. Because of the risks they face on duty, first responders can experience anxiety, depression, burnout, flashbacks, nightmares, and suicidal thoughts.

To help these courageous men and women cope with the trauma they experience, American Bible Society launched First in Last Out. This suite of Bible resources is designed to help firefighters and emergency medical technicians find peace and comfort in God’s Word. It includes a:

• Bible with a 7-day Scripture journey to discover what the Bible says about themes like courage, teamwork, and selfless sacrifice.
• Devotional, which includes real stories from first responders, thoughts for reflection, prayers, and a “put into practice” opportunity.

God’s Word has the power to remove the heavy burdens of our heart. We are praying that it will do so for these heroes who respond first to emergency situations.

American Bible Society President and CEO Roy L. Peterson offers this message for first responders in First in Last Out: “I hope you’ll find help and strength here in the words of the Bible, as I have in my most difficult moments.”

Let’s Pray:

Father, thank you for the life of every first responder. May they draw comfort, hope, and strength from your Holy Word. And we pray according to Psalm 71:2 (CEV),

“You do what is right, so come to my rescue. Listen to my prayer and keep me safe.”

Firefighters and EMTs interested in getting a copy of First in Last Out can send an email to sjones@americanbible.org or call (800) 32-BIBLE.