I was driving home last night from a twelve hour shift at the hospital when it occurred to me that I didn’t have much longer at my current assignment. As a travel nurse I sign a contract to fill in at a hospital for a designated amount of time, typically 13 weeks, although I had been at this particular job in sunny Florida since mid-March. I only had a few weeks until my contract ended, and as I drove along the Florida turnpike to our RV Park I quickly counted and surprised myself. Eight days left! I only had eight more working shifts before we packed up and left Florida for our next adventure. In my prayers I’d been referring to it to God as my duty station. I suppose old military habits and sayings die hard.
So as I gulped down the acknowledgment of how soon I would be leaving this job I realized something that kind of amazed me. I was not worried. Not at all.
“I’m not afraid,” I said to the Lord. And I meant it.
So crazy.
I say that because that’s so unlike me. I’m that friend you have who has to have everything lined up. I need my ducks in a row. It makes me twitchy when I don’t. I crave control like a fish craves the sea, and God has been using this travel experience to take me out of my box. A few months ago I decided to give it all to Him. I was seeing that there was so much out of my control, and if I was going to ask Jesus to take care of it then I’d have to let go of the reigns. I’d have to stop worrying, stop being afraid, because in essence that was me doubting Him. See, surrender meant not just letting go of the wheel, but also relaxing since you knew with God driving you wouldn’t crash. Easier said than done.
I told God about a month ago, “if you’ll get us where we need to go, I’ll follow.”
In that regard I was not only ready to trust His hand in my life, but also willing to obey. I stopped worrying about what was coming next, and in doing that I could better enjoy what was happening now. I was blessed minute by minute, and looking too far ahead for what the Lord had next was making me miss the present.
So, I’m not flying by the seat of my pants, per se. I’m working with a couple of recruiters, I have an application in with the VA Travel Corps, and I’m watching job listings as they’re posted. So I’m looking for that next job! But I’m not worried about it. God hasn’t failed us yet, and He’s not about to start now. He has shown Himself faithful time and time again since March, creating open doors where previously there were none, and blessing us financially, spiritually, and with perfect health and safety as we’ve followed His lead for this path our family is on.
Keep us in your prayers as we journey forward. We’re so excited to see where God takes us, and when I find out I’ll let you know.