Aspiring Christian & Nursing student

alexamasan · Dec 3, 2018

Hey there, thanks for sharing!

Nursing in or of itself will not being you closer or farther away from God. God can use your profession (whatever it is), to advance the Kingdom, but your profession will not be the source of your spirituality.

If you have not yet made a connection to God, the bible says there is only one thing that will do that, and that thing is The Gospel. Do you think you are a good person? In order to answer that, we will measure up to God's law as the standard. Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever stolen anything, even if it was small or a music file from the internet? Have you used God's name in a cuss word? Have you ever lusted after anyone at all? Have you ever felt hatred toward anyone ever?

If even you did one of these things just once, you are a sinner. You did not just sin toward the person you lied to or hated, you also sinned toward God himself for breaking his law. I don't want you to feel like I'm putting you down here, because I myself am guilty of all of these things and more. So what do we deserve for breaking his law? Just like any criminal, there is a crime and punishment. Our punishment for our crimes will be an eternal punishment that we justly deserve for sinning against our creator and standard for goodness. Nothing we do, no matter how many good deeds, will erase the evil we have done in the past and the evil in our hearts that has us continue to sin in the future.

Even though God can fairly punish you for your sins, he is also loves and cares about you and has allowed you to live up to this point. In a way to fulfill the punishment that you deserve, God entered into his own creation as Jesus Christ and he lived a perfect life, never sinning and always acting righteously. He's the most innocent person who ever lived, he did not deserve any punishment for his life, and yet he freely gave his life to die on a cross to take on the punishment that you deserved to receive. Far beyond the physical pain of crucifixion, he also experienced God's full wrath and fury while he was on that cross, a wrath and fury that should have be sent down upon you! Jesus sacrificed himself for you and the Father accepted Jesus as a substitute and he proved this by raising Jesus back to life.

Jesus died for those who believe in him. If you realize that you are a sinner and you are under God's wrath, turn to Jesus. Have faith that he took the punishment for your sins for you. If you truly believe that (not just understanding it, but believe it and commit your life to it), then the Holy Spirit will change your heart. The spirit will change you in such a way that make you turn from your sin, to push it away, to hate your sin, and instead pursue Jesus and a life living according to his will for you.

This is the Gospel, do you believe it? Will you submit your life to Jesus? Tell us what you think.

Daisy4RN · Dec 14, 2018

I dont think that any specific profession/job will bring you closer to God per se. It is more how you perform/behave/act in the job that matters. The job should be an expression of worship, not just for self gratification, this is what will bring you closer to God. Although I do believe that you should always ask God for direction for your life/path, job included. If you are interested in a closer connection/walk with God then just ask for guidance and He will speak to you and He will guide you via His word. Start reading the Bible (commentaries can be helpful), listen to radio, reach out to other Christians. He will find you if you ask!

Pallspice_NP, MSN, NP · Jan 15, 2019

I do believe that God works in mysterious ways! Certain nursing fields and experiences may increase your exposure to the inner workings of God, test your faith, and allow you to reflect upon your relationship with God. I have worked in hospice and palliative care for 6 years now. Seeing people at the very end, who may have had a relationship with God or may have not, experience extraordinary changes and a new found love for God that they never imagined. They may pray for you/with you, and speak of the many times and ways God has carried them. I have thought many times, "this can ONLY be God." You see and hear so much, that there is absolutely no other way! They smile and are at peace. They do not fear death, because they KNOW this is not the end. When you are around nothing but God, you can't help but to know him. I'm not saying this is the answer...you have to listen to His voice to find out where your purpose lies. For me, this was the answer ?

offlabel · Feb 6, 2019

Be careful about the association a "connection" with God with an emotion or sentimental feeling. Warm fuzzies are not necessary at all.....

Trauma Columnist · Feb 10, 2019

Nursing has taught me the frailty of life....how you can be going along and have something horrendous happen that changes your entire future.

In this way it has brought me closer to God.

mtmkjr, BSN · Feb 10, 2019

39 minutes ago, traumaRUs said:
Nursing has taught me the frailty of life....how you can be going along and have something horrendous happen that changes your entire future.
In this way it has brought me closer to God.

In a similar way, nursing gives me more opportunity to see the work of God in people's lives.

Suffering and in pain are unavoidable but sometimes it is the only way that we ever see and know God. We are less likely to be calling out to him and looking for Him when things are going well. It is when things fall apart that we realize we need Him. That is why I have learned to be thankful in all things, particularly in suffering because of the closeness of God.

Even when my life is going smoothly, I observe in the lives of others around me, including patients and family who have faith and how God is present and their circumstances. It encourages me in my faith, and keeps me "connected" to Him.

Also, @gopats1234, you say that you grew up in a Christian home and that your parents were devout and religious... Maybe have some conversations with them about their faith?

I would also encourage you to find other people who have a relationship with Him. Find Bible study spend time with people who are passionate about having a relationship and love Jesus... Sometimes people can be super religious but lack a true relationship.

Mr. Murse · Apr 1, 2019

As with life in general, what you experience in the world of nursing will affect you subjectively and no one else's experiences will define what yours will be.

I'm a missionary kid and had a great, loving family who are exemplary Christians, but I left religion in my early 20s for more reasons than I can get into right here. I went into nursing in my late 20s/early 30s and now, almost 8 years later, nothing I have seen has changed my mind about god or life or religion.

If anything, all the death and sickness and humanity I have been around has further solidified my lack of belief in a personal, Judeo-Christian God or an after life and spiritual realm outside this one.

On the other hand, I've talked to other people in the medical field who feel like it has proven their beliefs and strengthened their faith.

The point is, it's all personal, and you will usually see what you're looking for. If, like me, you are not looking at things as magic/spiritual, then you probably won't see any evidence for it. If you're actively trying to see god intervening and evidence of "his hand" then you will interpret the same situations differently.

Nursing within itself will likely neither make or break your faith, it will be what you make of it.

Also, it won't make you a good or bad nurse. There are great, compassionate atheist nurses out there and cold, angry atheist nurses. There are great, compassionate Christian and Muslim nurses out there and there are cold, angry ones too.

dumbnurse, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN · Apr 17, 2019

God is in all of us. We just need to open ourselves to that realization.

GrumpyRN, NP · Apr 17, 2019

1 hour ago, dumbnurse said:
God is in all of us. We just need to open ourselves to that realization.

Sorry, no s/he/it is not. Please don't make assumptions about me or for me.

Daisy4RN · Apr 18, 2019

11 hours ago, GrumpyRN said:
Sorry, no s/he/it is not. Please don't make assumptions about me or for me.

I believe that dumbnurse was responding to the OP and not to you. I dont know why you felt the need to respond but...me thinks thou dost protest too much.

GrumpyRN, NP · Apr 18, 2019

14 hours ago, Daisy4RN said:
I believe that dumbnurse was responding to the OP and not to you. I dont know why you felt the need to respond but...me thinks thou dost protest too much.

Really? Where does dumbnurse say that? It seemed to me to be a general point which I think is wrong and presumptuous.

Not sure why you are quoting Shakespeare to me.