Jones, Christina L. CumminsAuthor Information
Journal of Christian Nursing 39(4):p E72-E73, October/December 2022.
In today’s difficult and chaotic time, nurses are reminded that their work is a calling from God. When overwhelmed and discouraged, biblical truths in this article may serve as reminders that God is present, carries burdens, comforts, and provides hope. God gives multiple spiritual resources for encouragement and enablement to do his work.
In the beginning, the world was good. We know this because the Bible tells us that after God created the world, “He saw all that he had made and it was very good” (Genesis 1:31, NIV). At that time, there was no chasm between God and man; there was no brokenness. All of creation lived for and glorified God alone and thus fulfilled its purpose. Contrast that perfect world to the world we live in today. The world today is ridden in disease, wickedness, violence, and unrest. People seek to elevate themselves rather than God. People choose to live apart from and reject God. Although many people speculate the driving factors behind the world’s turmoil, most fail to recognize the central overriding factor—sin. All of mankind is sinful. Although we as humans consider certain sins more grievous than others, in God’s eyes all sin separates us from him. But praise be to God that, in his infinite mercy, he offers a redemptive plan for salvation through the death and resurrection of his son, Jesus Christ!
Amid the current chaos, Christians should remain hopeful while simultaneously recognizing that we are in a spiritual battle with a determined enemy. As nurses caring for peoples’ minds, bodies, and souls, we stand at the forefront of this battle. If we are to withstand the enemy’s attacks, we must daily put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:13-17). Presented here are six scriptural truths that can help us in this fight.
GOD FULFILLS OUR LONGINGS
People long for many things: truth, hope, love, belonging, acceptance, friendship, companionship, peace, purpose, comfort, rest, forgiveness, equality, success, status, perfection, and more. As nurses, we witness the destructive attempts of people seeking to fulfill these longings, but as Christians we know that nothing earthly can fill the void within the human heart. Only God can provide the consummate love we seek because God is love (1 John 4:16). Truth is found in Christ (John 14:6). True peace and rest come from the Prince of Peace (John 14:27). We were each made for a unique purpose (Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 29:11-12). We have a friend who never fails us, who understands the troubles of this life (Hebrews 4:15, 13:5-6). We belong (1 Corinthians 3:23) and have an eternal home (Hebrews 13:14). Although we are incomplete on our own, we are made complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10). Without the blood of Jesus, we stand guilty before God, but God freely grants forgiveness to those who ask (1 John 1:5-10). We have a Savior who reigns victoriously on his throne and is making all things new (Revelation 21:1-8). Recognizing our own longings and shortcomings should remind us to be patient with ourselves and others. We all bear the image of God, and it is God who fills the longings of the human heart.
OUR IDENTITY IS FOUND IN CHRIST
Work that fulfills our unique purpose is a gift of God (Ecclesiastes 5:19). For many of us, nursing is our calling. Our work is noble and good; it is fulfilling. There is arguably no other work like it. But if we are not mindful, our work can become all-consuming. Without realizing it, we begin to define ourselves more by what we do than by whose we are. We find ourselves tirelessly striving to serve and please people instead of God, and in so doing become discouraged and depleted, or, alternatively, prideful. The Bible reminds us, “Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men … You serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24, HCSB). When we find our purpose in God first, our spiritual reserves overflow with the love, compassion, perseverance, endurance, and hope that we need to humbly but courageously help others in their need.
GOD IS EVER PRESENT
As we care for others, remember that God is ever present, regardless of whether he is acknowledged or wanted (Psalm 139:7-8). Former Vietnam Army Chaplain Robert Crick (2012) said, “We have, unfortunately and too often operated under the elitist belief that we bring God to the world. Yet, experience shows us over and over again that He is already present [in others’ brokenness, hunger, and loneliness]” (p. 20). When we walk in the Spirit of God and love God, his love flows through us. This love, which is otherwise unexplainable, awakens within others an awareness of a presence and of a need that they cannot explain. This presence—this need—is God (Crick, 2012).
GOD CARRIES OUR BURDENS
Dutch Catholic priest Henri Nouwen (1972) asked, “Who can take away suffering without entering into it?” (p. 78). As nurses, we bear witness to, and may have experienced ourselves, great suffering. Physical suffering, emotional suffering, and spiritual suffering can be unyielding. When our efforts to bring goodness, hope, and healing to others seem insufficient, remember that the burden is not ours to carry alone (Crick, 2012). We have a Savior who daily bears our burdens (Psalm 68:19). Sharing our burdens with God does not erase their memory or existence, but does keep us from being crushed by their weight. When we have done all that we can for others, ultimately, it is God who heals (Exodus 15:26), restores (Psalm 23:3), opens minds (Luke 24:45), changes hearts (Ezekiel 36:26), draws others to himself (John 6:44), and saves (Acts 2:21).
GOD GIVES US COMFORT
When we share our burdens with God, we discover that he is the “God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we might comfort those in any trouble” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NIV). Our suffering is not in vain if we use it to comfort others. How often a word of encouragement has come to us at just the right time, sometimes from the most unlikely of source. Remember that God engineers circumstances and desires to use us as vessels of comfort as he sees fit.
WE NEED NOT FEAR
As nurses, we have the sacred opportunity to not only enter into others’ suffering, but to encourage others in their suffering. Yet, so often we fail to follow the Holy Spirit’s promptings to provide encouragement to others for fear of offense. The Bible tells us that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of boldness, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). He commands us to be courageous (Joshua 1:7) and promises to strengthen us as we do his work (Isaiah 41:10). He goes before us (Deuteronomy 31:8), walks besides us (Psalm 23:4), and even guards us from behind (Isaiah 52:12). He knows the way that we take (Job 23:10). He leads us on paths of righteousness for his name’s sake (Psalm 23:3), meaning he leads us on good paths—including to certain people or tasks—meant to bring him glory.
God’s will is going to be done with or without our help. Still, he offers us the privilege of partnering with him to do his work (Ephesians 2:10). Instead of missing divinely appointed opportunities to help others, let us ask God to give us courage, discernment, and the right words at the appropriate time. He will! Isaiah 50:4 reads, “The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed” (NIV). We should love others as they are and where they are. We should be respectful of what they believe and bring comfort to those entrusted to our care. But above all, we should love and revere God and walk in a manner worthy of our calling (Colossians 1:9-14). Finally, we should be prepared to give a gentle and respectful answer for the hope that we have, should we be asked (1 Peter 3:15).
CONCLUSION
In closing, history has proven that people seek God the most when times are darkest. We know that God does not wish for anyone to perish but for everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9) and that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love him, to those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). May our prayer be that God would use these tempestuous times to save those who are lost, to bring home his prodigal sons and daughters, and to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. We serve a God who fulfills our longings, gives us a new identity, is always with us, carries our burdens, comforts us, saves us, and tells us we need not fear. Remembering who we are in Christ should empower us for our work. What a hope we have!
