JESUS & NURSING-Pressure Cooker

Tired. Overwhelmed. Stressed. Afraid. Worried. Angry. Hopeless. Sadness. Pain. PRESSURE. These are just a FEW of the words describing the human race..myself and my fellow essential colleagues! Death is all around. Fear is present and chaos and the behaviors of man (humans) unbelievable. I’ll admit, when I heard about COVID-19 I wasn’t too concerned. It seems like every few years it’s something right? H1N1, Bird Flu, Ebola, and now Coronavirus. As the virus began to spread like wildfire, now everyone and anyone is at risk. First, It was the elderly and children, and those who have traveled out of the country recently… You don’t know if you are a carrier or not. You could have the virus and not have symptoms but then you come in contact with Someone who has a weaker immune system and contracts the virus. Because of this people are operating in fear which is causing them to behave and respond irresponsibly. People are hoarding toilet tissue and hand sanitizer.. out of fear of the unknown! Grocery store associates, postal service employees, banking, educators (God bless you all) and all other business associates who are essential and are still working alongside the healthcare staff are feeling pressure… and people are still refusing to comply with the laws of the land! Protesting to be free from stay at home orders and refusing to wear masks in public! Talk about pressure!

Pressure is defined as the burden of physical or mental distress; the constraint of circumstance : the weight of social or economic imposition! We are all feeling this pressure! And for the sake of my GUMBO… we are all in a type of pressure cooker which is an airtight utensil for quick cooking or preserving of foods by means of high-temperature steam under pressure. It is also defined as a situation or environment that is fraught with emotional or social pressures.

Now that we are over a month and some with this virus, I’ve had to navigate through it as a believer in Christ and as a healthcare provider. As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs, everything that we experience is used for our Good (Romans 8:28) and is our GUMBO. Nursing is a huge part of my gumbo because it is the vehicle that God uses to birth his purpose for me. It has me in and out of my own pressure cooker….Internally and externally! Before now, I’ve operated as a leader and manager at my organization ensuring staff are supported, educated, advocated, and encouraged. The pressure has been good because it’s molded and shaped me into who I am today! But this pressure cooker situation now is one we’ve never encountered! Because of this virus, I’m having to truly operate in faith and wisdom from God! It’s so uncomfortable! I know and understand that it comes with the territory. As a matter of fact, healthcare worker or not, Every leader of a business or organization feels the pressure that COVID-19 has brought. I am not alone! My faith in Jesus and believing that he has predestined me before I was born for this moment so that he can use me and be glorified has helped me remain strong in him. It’s helped me stand firm, to shake off the comments, and the pressure, to renew my mind, to stay in prayer and stay encouraged! So many scriptures come to mind that has and is helping me as a Nurse Leader and Manager during this pandemic.

“…And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?””
‭‭Esther‬ ‭4:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.””
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1:5-6, 9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I cannot forget Psalms 91 in its entirety! 🙌🏾😩

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:8-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭1:4-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The good thing about this pressure cooker is that it will be over soon. I know I know.. when? How do I know? How can I have faith that this will end? Where’s the science? Being a woman of science and a woman of faith, is how I can be assured that eventually this will end! A pressure cooker has a lot of steam, heat, and of course pressure to cook the food faster! So whatever is happening is for a purpose that we do not know. For myself, I know that God has been working in me. In my heart… to change me, transform me into who he has predestined me to become and for his ultimate purpose. I’m in my purpose right now.. and the pressure is preparing me for the next assignment. For our nation and world… we don’t know what the cure will be or when it will come if it will come or what the future may hold … but the pressure will eventually cease and what was normal will no longer be our normal but a new Normal and way of living will occur. More people have turned to God and Jesus Christ and people have the ability to hear the message through social media! People are able to spend time with family… connect with children, get rest and take it easy! Yet and still there are those struggling financially, domestic abuse cases have risen, and people are still dying from this virus. There’s good and bad! All I can say and do is trust God. He is sovereign. He is in control. He is GOOD. He has a purpose for all. And he allows pressure for a reason!

We are no where near the end, but I have faith in God and what he is capable of doing! I have faith that Jesus will give me what I need to overcome every challenge set before me! I know that the Pressure will not overtake me but is good and will prepare me! I am strengthened, ready, and equipped to get through the pandemic because when it’s over, I will be able to say.. Thank you Jesus for the pressure, because it is cooking my GUMBO!

Remember God + U (You) + Me = Blessing Others (G.U.M.B.O.)

-Jesus and G.U.M.B.O.