Rick Palmer is a retired police officer. During his career, he witnessed many horrific incidents of what one human being can suffer at the hand of another. The images of some of these atrocities remain etched in his mind. 

 

  Entering his retirement from the force, Rick had plans of relaxation, possibly fishing, and pursuing other interests, but the Lord had other plans. After he had turned in his badge, Rick answered the call to become a police chaplain. A police chaplain resembles that of a pastor of a church except the congregations are the employees of law enforcement agencies. Serving others is his passion. Rick entered another type of war. He helps those fighting the war on crime, but also brings comfort, and counsel to those affected by it. 

 

  Seven years into his retirement, his world began to change. His father’s health was failing, and he succumbed to his deteriorating health, which was only the beginning of a series of events that would unfold and prove to be the most stressful season of Rick’s life. He is a man of faith, but when challenged with all he faced, his faith was now on trial.

 

  With so many uncertainties, Rick struggled to make sense of it all. Those who were closest to him became his sources of pain. Places of sanctuary turned into institutions of conflict. Reflecting back, he recalls, that it was more stressful and draining than his former occupation. 

 

  All will have trouble in this life and face many trials (1 Peter 1:6-9). How we deal with it makes the difference of letting it overwhelm us or setting us free. We can let it overcome us or we can overcome it. God’s Word says that the afflictions of the righteous will be many but that God will deliver us out of ALL our troubles (Ps. 34:17-19).

 

  Rick’s desire is to help others overcome their grief and see it through to victory. In His book, Grief to Victory – Looking for a Pony in the Manure Pile, Rick gives answers on how he worked through his times of trails. Through his experience of having “been there,” he offers encouragement to those who are or have been in the darkest time of life.