Faith in the Waiting
Obedience in a Job I Don't Love
Like many others, I don’t love nursing.
I love helping others, I’m grateful for the work, I know it’s important, and I’m told I’m pretty good at it. But if I’m being honest, I don’t wake up excited to work — even on a good day.
In this season, though, I’m learning that obedience is more powerful than excitement.
Travel nursing isn’t easy. It’s humbling. But it’s exactly where I’m supposed to be.
Calling vs. Passion
I really do enjoy caring for and talking with patients. There’s not much in this world that makes me happier than seeing a really sick patient get better and go home. And you can’t beat only working three days per week — even when those shifts are long.
But the stress of the job, the thankless nature of it, and the emotional weight can make the work hard to appreciate at times.
When I first discovered FIRE in 2019, I saw nursing only as a stepping stone. I still took great care of my patients, but I viewed the profession as a means to an end — my own end. I didn’t see it as a calling, despite what my mother and countless patients told me.
Now, through the hardship of the last two years, I see God’s hand in the ordinary. Maybe I’ll share the full story of how I got into nursing another time, but for now, I’ll just say this: it happened under very odd circumstances. Looking back, I see it as God showing me His path for my life.
Growing up, I never would have guessed I’d be a nurse. And yet, here I am — making a difference in people’s lives every day I put on scrubs.
Practices in the Waiting Season
In this part of my life, where I’m unsure about the future, I’m reflecting on the lessons God is teaching me.
I’m practicing humility, rebuilding from the bottom.
I’m focusing on gratitude — even for the hard and confusing parts.
I’m trusting that the waiting is doing something in me and in others.
“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” — Colossians 3:23
I’m trying to find alignment in my life and to practice faithfulness. I don’t know how long this waiting season will last — maybe a few years, maybe longer. But for the first time, I’m okay with that.
If you’ve ever felt stuck between calling and contentment, you’re not alone.
Subscribe if you want to walk this slow road with me — one contract at a time.