Colossians 1:1 (NCV) "From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, I am an apostle because that is what God wanted."
Wow! I read that this morning, and then I put my name and one of my occupations in there - "From Esther, a nurse for Christ Jesus. I am a nurse because that is what God wanted!"
As far as being a nurse is concerned, I was an unlikely candidate. From as early as I can remember, I was the one that fainted at the sight of blood. We're not talking hemorrhage; just a tiny cut would send that horrible sinking feeling with blackness crowding in the edges of my vision. If I was lucky, I would wake up before my siblings threw cold water on my face!
So, when at a very young age I said that I wanted to be a nurse, I was met with very little encouragement from my family - and quite occasionally disparagement!
That was before I met and married my husband Gary. He and his family encouraged me to try things that I thought were impossible. "You can do it!" they often told me. "You can do anything you want to do if you put your mind to it."
Well, I did put my mind to it. After I was accepted into nursing school, I quit my job as a receptionist/girl Friday for a busy husband/wife ENT/pediatric practice. I studied with my children while they were doing their homework. It was challenging, but very enjoyable.
BUT THEN CAME CLINICAL!!! Gary's words of "You can do it" were not enough! The smells, sights, and sounds of the hospital nearly sent me into the black zone of fainting again and again. I cried out to God for help. Had I made a mistake in trying to be a nurse? Were my siblings right in their childhood taunts that I could never do this?
God gave me encouragement through His Word, the Bible. He called my attention to verses like Isaiah 40:29-31 that says "He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strenth; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint."
There were many other verses from the book of Isaiah which had to do with giving strength. I can't find the one right now that I repeated out loud to myself over and over on the 55 mile drive to clinical every morning, but it went something like this: "This is the task that I have given you, and I will give you the strength to do it."
So, that is why I can say like Paul did in Colossians 1:1, "I am a nurse because that is what God wanted!"
He not only gave me the desires of my heart (Psalm 37:4), but He gave me the strength to do it. Probably He did this, because He knew I was so very weak, that it would take His strength to get me through. Because of my weakness and tendency to faint, God came through as the hero, and He gets any glory for anything I accomplished in my nursing career.
Wow! I read that this morning, and then I put my name and one of my occupations in there - "From Esther, a nurse for Christ Jesus. I am a nurse because that is what God wanted!"
As far as being a nurse is concerned, I was an unlikely candidate. From as early as I can remember, I was the one that fainted at the sight of blood. We're not talking hemorrhage; just a tiny cut would send that horrible sinking feeling with blackness crowding in the edges of my vision. If I was lucky, I would wake up before my siblings threw cold water on my face!
So, when at a very young age I said that I wanted to be a nurse, I was met with very little encouragement from my family - and quite occasionally disparagement!
That was before I met and married my husband Gary. He and his family encouraged me to try things that I thought were impossible. "You can do it!" they often told me. "You can do anything you want to do if you put your mind to it."
Well, I did put my mind to it. After I was accepted into nursing school, I quit my job as a receptionist/girl Friday for a busy husband/wife ENT/pediatric practice. I studied with my children while they were doing their homework. It was challenging, but very enjoyable.
BUT THEN CAME CLINICAL!!! Gary's words of "You can do it" were not enough! The smells, sights, and sounds of the hospital nearly sent me into the black zone of fainting again and again. I cried out to God for help. Had I made a mistake in trying to be a nurse? Were my siblings right in their childhood taunts that I could never do this?
God gave me encouragement through His Word, the Bible. He called my attention to verses like Isaiah 40:29-31 that says "He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strenth; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint."
There were many other verses from the book of Isaiah which had to do with giving strength. I can't find the one right now that I repeated out loud to myself over and over on the 55 mile drive to clinical every morning, but it went something like this: "This is the task that I have given you, and I will give you the strength to do it."
So, that is why I can say like Paul did in Colossians 1:1, "I am a nurse because that is what God wanted!"
He not only gave me the desires of my heart (Psalm 37:4), but He gave me the strength to do it. Probably He did this, because He knew I was so very weak, that it would take His strength to get me through. Because of my weakness and tendency to faint, God came through as the hero, and He gets any glory for anything I accomplished in my nursing career.
9 comments:
Having recently undergone shoulder surgery, this was encouraging to me. It seems I just can't get better quick enough...quick enough for me, anyway. But, it is good to know that the creator of the universe, also the creator of my body, cares and will give me the strength and ability to accomplish what He wants for me. Thank you for your encouragement today.
Thanks, Esther Joy...That fainting problem must have run in the family because I, too, struggled with it, even fainting at school when getting our immunizations. Victory over that for me also came from the Lord. It was at a time when I was in a class at Prairie and our instructor was teaching us to give shots. We sat in a circle, each was to give his/her neighbor a saline shot and I had that same feeling rush over me. The instructor, seeing my ashen face, said I could leave and later give the shot to her in her office. I left, pale and weak-kneed, and in the bathroom splashed water on my face. Before leaving the bathroom I opened my Bible. It opened up to "my verse" ! It was/is Isaiah 30:15 "For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall you be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength; and ye would not" I didn't like that "and you would not", and the Lord gave me peace and strength to go back into the room (in returning and rest) and tell the instructor I would be able to give the shot now. The Lord is so faithful to help us when we can't or don't think we can, isn't He?
thank you thank you thank you!!!!
Praise God! A beautiful testimony and reflection on His work in your life. Happy Spiritual Sunday!
I love reading how He takes ordinary chicken hearted people to be something they thought they never could be.....awesome testimony
This is a wonderful testimony! I love how the Lord but your husband and his family in your life to encourage you.
God Bless,
Ginger
Hi Esther,
Thank you for sharing your testimony of God's wonderful grace; strengthening you to go beyond your doubts, fears, and ability. As I read this I thought of another scripture which has often encouraged me, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13, NIV)
Blessings and peace.
MTJ
Beautiful testimony, Esther! Thank you for sharing with us.
From Sandy, a teacher for Jesus Christ.
I am a teacher, because that's what God wanted.
What a beautiful story! I love that -- I'm a nurse because that's what God wanted.
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