I’m the kind of woman who draws her strength from the Lord, but after an especially difficult shift as a registered nurse I will sometimes find myself feeling weak. I may even feel defeated, as if I am an absolute failure at what I’m trying to do. Or I may feel like I just don’t have what it takes to give my patients what they deserve.
It’s in these moments of occasional, but understandable discouragement over a very difficult vocation that I must remind myself of the solid truths about myself and my profession that can be found in God’s word.
Here are 5 Biblical truths I try and remember, and that I repeat to myself in those moments when I need encouragement the most.
1. Remember where your strength comes from.
Philipians 4:13
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Y’all, nursing is hard, and that’s why this is my power verse. I will never know all the answers, catch every problem before it becomes a big issue, or get every single thing right. It’s just too complex of a position to expect perfection of one’s self. But I can rely on the one who is perfect. I can pray to hear His voice as I go about my day, and I can agree to trust the Lord to supply me with the resolve I need to do my job well.
When I cannot, he can. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
2. Remember why you’re doing what you do.
Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
As a Christian I believe that every move I make and every action I perform is a direct representation of who I am in Christ. Every task I perform is for his honor and his glory. So in essence everything I do should be done unto him, in his honor, and for the furthering of his kingdom.
What I do matters. Whether it’s wiping someone’s bottom, holding a frightened woman’s hand, titrating dangerous cardiac medications, or even charting, I am doing it for the Lord. I am serving his people, and I would like to think that makes him proud.
In this regard it only makes sense that I try and do what I do with a joyful heart. This isn’t always easy, and I fall short often, but that’s why it’s a good reminder. It’s a great thing to keep in mind that my actions are working according to his purpose, that my attitude represents his kingdom, and that God can use even little ole me to accomplish wonderful things. Now that’s encouraging.
3. Remember that fear isn’t necessary.
Psalm 118:6
The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
It’s really easy to become fearful in the frightening world of healthcare. There’s so many unknowns, so many things that can go wrong. I find it extremely helpful, though, when I remind myself that there is no unknown to God.
He knows what assignment I will receive, how my patient will react to intervention, and what the eventual outcome will be. He holds it all in the palm of his hand, and as I trust in him, he will guide me.
In nursing fear will come, but it’s not necessary to hold onto that fear when you remember your trust lies in the creator of the universe. When you rest in the shadow of the almighty he will give you peace, not fear. Fear is from the other guy.
4. Remember that God has you where he wants you for a reason.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
It’s easy to get frustrated at times with where we are in our career. You can begin to question if you’re in the right setting or field all together. It’s easy to become discouraged, and in those instances it’s imperative to hold tightly to the calling God placed in your heart in the beginning.
Sometimes we are where we are for a season, or we must transverse a difficult, dry patch to get to the other side. But whatever the situation you can always trust that God has control of your destiny. He will open doors, and he will close others.
He will guide us to new places if and when it is his will, but he will always provide us with what we need for where we are. And his purposes are always fulfilled where he has placed us. Even when we cannot see. You just have to trust that he is working it all towards your good, in his perfect knowledge and time.
5. Remember who’s in control.
This is a hard one for nurses. Nursing is a field where your actions and decisions are a huge deal, and in reality they can mean life or death for someone. In that line of thinking it’s easy to become stressed out as you feel you must manage and control everything. But when it comes down to it you don’t have control. You just don’t.
While this is a hard thing to admit, I find it’s actually easier when I can remember that the outcome of my patient isn’t really in my hands. I can do the best I can do, but in the end I have to surrender my performance into the Lord’s hands. And when I do that I can actually catch my breath. He’s in control; he’s got this! Thank God.
Isaiah 55:8-9
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD . “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
vickie willingham says
Thank you for this Brie- so important to be reminded of His truths! It is the only way to stay strong..
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you.
laura marcinkiw says
i feel so low atm very similar to your explanation i am very down
Terri says
I love this. I have leaned on these verses for a long time. I know that God made me want to be a nurse. .he knew before I did that I would have a servants heart. .You have to in order to fill the position. To work daily in and for the service of others is very humbling and rewarding (on a GOOD day)❤❤❤❤❤❤
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you Terri. So true!
Lara says
This has been so important for me to read and be encouraged by! I have felt the Lord’s leading and I have worked hard and graduated nursing school but now as I work my tail end off to pass the Nclex God has allowed me to take it multiple times and I’m still choosing to be confident in Gods timing but it has exhausted me and really taken the wind out of my sails. I do believe God will put a new passion on my heart if He has something else in mind for me to do but my heart breaks that I haven’t been able to start this career and that I have no idea when He will pass me after all this hard work Id love as much encouragement as I can get from y’all!!!!! Thank you and keep it coming:)
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you for commenting. Best wishes to you and God bless.
Gaby says
I understand you perfectly I am currently trying to pass my LPN NCLEX. I will be taking it for the 3rd time probably in December or January of this year, not sure yet when though. I feel so bummed out because several of my friends have already started their journey and I feel like I can’t move forward yet (my main goal is to become an RN) but I know he has the perfect timing for me, I have to realize that if he is making me wait its because I will value my career a lot more when I finally have it going. So keep going and push forward. Best of luck to you!
Barbara says
This is how I got through raising all four of my children! His Grave is enough for me! Thank you for sharing!
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you for commenting. It’s how I raise children too. 🙂
Ruth says
This is definitely what I needed to read today!!! I had a long and difficult night shift and only 3 hours sleep today and had been feeling quite disheartened after a third patient in 4 days died on our ward . But to remember that God is in control and knows each and every event, moment, issue, heartache and pain that we and our patients and their family go through…the fact that we are here at this moment, for a purpose, for a reason. That is what keeps me going. PRAISE GOD!
Michael says
You have put into words my exact thoughts. Thank you so much for this!
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you!
Margie Frazier says
33 years as a nurse, and I still cling to His word everyday! I no longer work at the hospital or nursing homes. Instead I teach His new nurses coming along. And in every venue, I see His wonderful hand and fill His blessings! We serve a mighty God! Thank you for your testimony! Margie
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you for commenting.
cheryl says
This is so wonderful. Thanks for sharing this.
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you.
Gary says
I had open heart surgery a month ago today and was in the hospital for 6 days. It’s hard for me to put into words just how much I appreciate the way the nurses took care of me. It wasn’t just the vast amount of knowledge they had, it was the way they cared about how they did their job. My wife was able to sleep well at night knowing I was in good hands. If you are a nurse, I can see how you would get discouraged. But as a patient, I have the utmost respect for you. You helped me get better quicker. God bless each of you.
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you so much. I personally recover open heart surgery patients. So glad you had a wonderful experience.
Faye says
And too,remember this is temporary! Our Father,Jehovah is going to remove all suffering!Rev.21: 1-4
Marcia says
I plan on reading this every day b4 work. Great inspirational read.
Marci
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you.
Genie Knighton says
My power verse is #1, in fact so much so, I wear a silver circle bracelet that I never remove, with that verse Phil 4:13 on it. Thank you for reminding those of us who may no longer be able to do the vocation they loved that what they did matter. Once a nurse always a nurse ♡♡
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you for commenting.
Maria J Raines says
Thank you for sharing, as nurses we need to always depend on Our Father, He is our strength, our light, our encouragement and the peace at the end of day at work. Praise God for being a vessel for his word,
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you for commenting.
Davy says
Thank you for the reminder that I am not in control, but that I have the One that is in control in my heart!
Natalia Myers says
I am a new grad, and just going through school and clinicals made my heart heavy some times, but God, only Him got me to where I am today and I believe that he will guide my career every day! Thank you for sharing, beautiful!
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you. Best wishes in your career.
margareth louis says
Thanks so much for these words of encouragement. I had a so busy night at work and trust me I paused and said to myself is it the right career. But you reminded me that it’s not about me or my strength it’s all about my God what he put In my heart for others in need. Love and appreciate it. God bless
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you!
Betty Heath says
Thanks for these reminder s after 31 years I can get easily frustrated but as a Christian I know that it’s not about me but about the kingdom of God
TERESA says
ALL THIS IS SO TRUE YOU ARE A VERY GODLY WOMAN THANK GOD FOR PEOPLE LIKE YOU. YOU ARE A BLESSING TO SO MANY PEOPLE .
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you so much.
joyce says
Thank you. Very encouraging in our profession.
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you for commenting.
Heather Meadows says
What a wonderful post! Thank you for composing such encouragement for fellow nurses and everyone striving their best to be used by Him and for Him. Your gift has surely blessed me!
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you.
Beth says
Beautiful, and so important! Thank you for the encouraging words. I would add only one point, that I feel is too important to leave out, and that is this is not the end, and this is not our home yet. As nurses, we see so much of how broken and painful our world is, but Christ is making all things new!!
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:4 ESV
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Wonderful addition. Thank you for commenting.
Adam says
Thanks for the encouragement and reminders of HIS promises to us, every one of them is yes and amen. The patients we care for need more Christ centered care and the best way I know how to do that is by me being Christ centered.
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you so much. Agreed.
Maggie says
Brie,
I found this post through pinterest and it brought tears to my eyes. I’m in my last year of nursing school and had a recent incidence at the hospital. Errors were made on my watch and I let stress get the best of me rather than taking a step back and reminding myself that God is control. I greatly appreciate you posting this and using your blog as a platform to help spread the love of Christ and encourage others. I certainly needed to read this. Thank you for sharing.
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you so much!
Rebecca says
Thankyou I needed to read that today. I don’t think I could nurse in emergency care without my Christian faith. Reading this and the other comments is so comforting. To know I am not alone in these thoughts.
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you.
Sharon Ball says
These verses are priceless to me. They worked when raising my kiddos. They worked when going to nursing school. They worked for 20+ years of nursing. Now they work while caring for medically needy fosters! Getting my moneys worth out of them! Lol. Thank you Brie for putting our nursing hearts into words.
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you.
Maria Knowlton says
Thank you so much for this post. I’m a non-traditional ( 43 yr old) nursing student. Glad I found this now so I can refer to it in my upcoming studies and beyond!
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you.
Juliana says
This is what I needed today! Thank you soo much. I graduated with my RN in June passed board just this September and am almost finished with my first nursing job orientation as a RN in a hospital. Its been overwhelming!! So much information and things you just have to know! These verses and explainations is what I have needed and in the most perfect timing.
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you so much for commenting and letting me know. That encourages me. Best wishes. It does get easier; trust me.
ALICE CEBRUN says
I AM THANKFUL FOR THE ENCOURAGING WORDS,I WILL SHARE THIS WITH MY DAUGHTER AND DAUGHTER-IN-LAW BOTH ARE NURSES. I AM A RETIRED RN.
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you.
Lara Edlund says
I desperately needed those words. I am still new to the field. I am almost three years into my calling and I have had some times of major anxiety and have wondered if I made the right choice. Deep down I know I did but Satan knows my weaks areas. I have relied on Isaiah 41:13 so many times. Thank you thank you for taking the time to write and share.
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you! Hang in there!
Sue says
Missing my practice so much due to health issues. Please pray that I may return to work. It was the most important thing I could do in my life… doing our LOVING Lord’s work!!!
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Praying for you now.
Emily Fondren says
Thank you for your blog! The bible just calms my soul! Thanks for making me think about it in relation to my job! Nursing is so hard, and it makes me forget sometimes God’s promises!
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you.
Ashley Marshall says
Man oh man did this come through at the right moment! I am currently at work taking a break, trying to distress from a particularly difficult patient and God definitely used you and this posting to refresh my attitude. Thank you thank you. God bless.
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you.
Sherry Martin says
Simply would like to say Amen! and thank you for sharing – Can’t get through my work day without a prayer on my way to work and throughout the shift.
Pat says
I must thank you for your reminders. As a 30+ year critical care nurse, I find it more and more difficult to do my job as the years pass. My body has taken a beating and I sometimes wonder how long I can go on. This is my life. This is my heart. It’s who I am. I am afraid, not of my knowledge or lack of, not of my abilities or skills, not of the decisions I make, but of what I will do when I can no longer be who and what I am, what I’ve always been. All five “truths” are important, but at this point number 5, and especially number 4 are the reminders to me. I am where God wants me, and he is in control.
Ronalyn says
Wonderful! A big help for my struggles today!thank you!
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you.
Fallon says
This is so encouraging to me as a nurse !!
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you!
Sharon says
Thank you. I truly needed this. God bless!
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thanks so much.
GG says
I’m in my first semester of nursing and I haven’t been doing as well as I thought I would be and became discouraged… This has truly lifted my spirits to press on to do what our Lord has called me to do. Thank you for this!! God Bless!
Valarie Ondricka says
Thank you so much for your words of wisdom! I am a new nurse on a med surg unit in a really small critical access hospital and it is certainly stretching me beyond my comfort zone. I am in the phase of questioning whether or not God really meant for me to be here. I joked the other day with a friend that, “maybe I didn’t hear God right. Does anything else rhyme with the word nurse?”
I keep finding myself feeling terrible and as if I am not able to provide the care I want to or that I had imagined I would. I struggle stepping out of the way to let God be in control. Thank you for reminding me of these important verses and relaying your experiences in a way I can completely relate. I will keep checking in for encouragement. It is so good to know I am not alone in these feelings.
Lisa says
Brie, this was a wonderful reminder. I am a newly registered nurse and I am recently off orientation after three months. I am afraid of becoming complacent, but also of making huge mistakes that can cost someone’s life. I work on a fast-pace cardiopulmonary unit and absolutely love it. These verses were exactly what I need! Thank you for sharing them!
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you!
Brittany says
I absolutely loved this! I am graduating with my LPN tomorrow and would love to incorporate some of this into my Chaplin speech if that is ok with you? I think this is a HUGE dose of encouragement for everyone to hear and really look back on when times get tough. Thank you 🙂
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Congrats. No problem; feel free to share, and thanks for commenting.
Heather says
Wow, what a spiritual boost of hope & encouragement! God’s Word is so powerful. I’m thankful I came across this while studying for Senior nursing finals.