Isaiah 14:27 For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and His hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?
October 25, 2020
From as early as 4-years old, I dreamed of being a medical doctor. I told everyone everyone I was going to be a doctor when I grew up. I actually referred to myself as ‘The Doctor’ and always took on that role when playing house with my brother and neighbor.
One day my neighbor had a fall and scraped her knee pretty badly. I got my doctor’s kit that my mother had bought me and showed up as ‘ The Doctor’. I tended to her knee, cleaned her wound, put a bandaid on it, and gave her specific instructions for follow up.
In 1st grade, I was thrilled to go on my first field trip, to St Jospeh’s hospital. Upon arrival to the hospital unit, the girls were given white nurse hats and the boys were given doctor headbands. Expressing my desire to be a doctor, I requested the doctor’s headband. My request was denied. Furthermore, the girls had to shadow the nurses and the boys, the doctors. After respectfully making my case, one doctor took me on rounds with him. I was absolutely fascinated by all that I saw and to interact with the patients, especially those who were in pain.
Everything I did, dreamed, thought, and spoke of was about being a medical doctor someday. I graduated high school at 16 years old and started college working towards my premed classes. But then I met my first husband. I got married at 17 and had my first child at 18 years old. I had my second child at 19, and at the same time I was awarded a scholarship to UC Berkeley for premed.
I needed to work while in school and obtained my LVN, and then RN license with the hopes of applying to medical school within 5 years of obtaining my RN license. Well, here I am 40 years later still on the road to becoming a medical doctor. When asked during interviews why I became a nurse, I gave the most straightforward answer, it was God’s calling.
I always cared for my patients and gave them the best of care. I was grateful for nursing. But it was never my choice for a career.
It wasn’t until I was further down the line in my nursing career and looked back over all the many lives that I had touched that I began to see what God was doing and what He had already done. I reflected on the babies I helped come into the world; the kids whose hands I held when they got admitted to the hospital, diagnosed with cancer, had chemo, and later died, and all of the other patients whose hands I held as they died. I reflected on the drug addicted patients and the alcoholics going through withdrawals; inmates who were sick; murderers that I took care of; patients with mental disorders, the students I’ve taught and those who have shadowed me, and so many more.
I thought of all the patients and families that I had witnessed to, prayed with, and prayed for. I began to see that it was never about me. It was never about my plan for my life. It was about all of the lives that God had connected to mine. It was about His divine timing. It was about His divine plan.
I have such a humble appreciation now for my nearly 40 years in nursing. What a blessing, what a tremendous blessing it has been in my life and more importantly in the lives of others. What an honor that God chose me for such a huge task and that He trusted me with the lives, hearts, minds, bodies, and souls of His precious creations.
I used to be concerned that because of all the years that have passed, my age could be a barrier in going to medical school, but not anymore. I serve the same God who allowed Abraham and Sarah to have a child well past the age of childbearing, Abraham being 100 and Sarah 90 years old. In fact, when Sarah laughed at having a child in her old age, God said to Abraham in Genesis 18:14 Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
Age doesn’t matter with God. He chooses whom He will. And God doesn’t choose people because they meet man’s criteria, but because they meet His criteria for the job that He has called them to do. Man chooses people for their strengths and because they fit the profile. God chooses people because of their weaknesses and specifically because they don’t fit the profile so that all will know that He- I AM THAT I AM, the Mighty God, the Omnipotent God, the Everlasting God reigns. God never operates by man’s rules; man operates as God so rules. 1 Corinthians 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 1 Corinthians 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 1 Corinthians 1:29 That no flesh should glory in His presence.
God told Abraham that at the appointed time, he and Sarah would have a child, meaning in His divine time. God is the creator of time and His time is not governed by man’s time. 2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
With God all things are possible and when He has a plan for your life, nothing and no one will stop it. Isaiah 14:27 For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and His hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?
It doesn’t matter if it takes 5, 10, 20, or even 40 years to get to where you’re going. If it’s truly God’s will, the timing is perfect, because God’s timing is perfect. Every single detour that occurs is divinely orchestrated by God.
I used to wonder why every single time that I set out to complete my coursework major obstacles would present themselves. But now I look at every obstacle as redirection to where God wants me to be at that place and time. And although I don’t work in direct patient care in the hospital anymore, God has provided another pathway to healing people with Healing Restoration Ministries- Mind, Body, & Soul. I thank God for all of the obstacles that has divinely led me here, to this place and time.
I don’t know where God is leading me, I just know that the best place to be is in His will and that is where I desire to be, in His will. I am having immense joy in answering His call, following Him, and touching as many lives as God allows along the way. It’s a beautiful thing to be on this adventure with the Lord walking in my purpose.
I can hear my Mom’s words-God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.
I have come to appreciate that although I make plans, God’s plans will prevail and His plans are always bigger and better than mine. Proverbs 16:9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
I know now that it was not the nurse’s or anyone else’s decision to give me that nurses hat that day, it was God’s and it all was part of His divine plan. God already knew all of the lives that He had ordained for me to touch through that nursing hat and the nursing hats to follow upon becoming an LVN and RN and nothing was going to stop God's plans. I hadn't planned on becoming a different kind of doctor and obtaining my PhD in Nursing to heal people. But I now understand that too as part of God's plans and how it is tied to the ministry work that I am doing. I see so much more value now in that nurse's hat that I was given on my field trip to St. Joseph's Hospital and I am so so thankful, honored, and humbly and eternally grateful to God.
Whatever your plans- commit them to the Lord, trust and have faith in Him, and be open to His will. You will be amazed at how God’s plans far exceed all that you ask of Him or imagine. Ephesians 3:20 Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Ephesians 3:21 Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Prayer:
Dear Father God,
Thank You Lord for Your hand upon my life and how You have directed and guided me over the years. I have had many obstacles along the way Lord, but I know that each and every obstacle, each and every detour was divinely orchestrated by You to lead me to the place that You want me to be, doing what You want me to do. And Lord I thank You for the many blessings that each obstacle has brought and the lives that have been touched along the way. Father God, I know that there are no barriers with You, because there is nothing that You can’t do. I know that there is nothing too hard for You God. I humbly ask that You would continue to allow me to walk in Your will. Lord I know that the best place to be is in Your will and that is the only place where I desire to be. I commit my plans, my will, and my way to You Lord. I know that You will do exceeding abundantly above all that I ask or think. Lord, to You be all the glory, honor, and praise, forever.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
Copyright © 2020 Healing Restoration Ministries
ความคิดเห็น