Happy belated new year! Pardon my absence for the past few months. It’s true what they say, the older you get, the quicker time passes by. This past fall, I finally completed my Doctor of Nursing Practice degree!

The idea of a doctorate lived in my prayers before it ever hit my résumé. The quiet nudge that demanded discipline, resilience, and more faith than I realized I had. There were seasons when progress felt slow, when I questioned whether I still had capacity, and when life didn’t pause just because of the added weight. Yet somehow, every chapter, every assignment, every late night carried purpose. The journey stretched me intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. Scripture reminds us, “The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me” (Psalm 138:8, ESV). Looking back, I see that God wasn’t just helping me earn a doctorate; He was shaping my leadership, refining my dependence, and aligning my work with His will.

Listening Closely to the Spirit

One of the most meaningful parts of this process was learning how to listen, not just to mentors, evidence, or systems, but to the Spirit. Purpose isn’t found in hustle; purpose is found in stillness. It’s discovered when we quiet the noise long enough to hear what God is already saying. Many times, we pursue the certainty of an outcome before obedience. I wanted the whole roadmap before taking the next step. Faith doesn’t work that way. Instead, God kept inviting me to move one decision at a time, trusting Him with what I could not see yet.

Proverbs says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5–6, NIV). The journey wasn’t just academic advancement; it was spiritual formation. I learned to pause before reacting, pray before planning, and ask God not for what I wanted, but instead for what He desired to grow through me. Listening to the Spirit changed how I approached leadership, scholarship, and even my own limits.

The Struggle of Full Surrender

If I’m being honest, surrender is a hard lesson. We like partial surrender. It’s the kind where God can guide, but we still need to control the outcome. Full surrender asks us to release timelines, expectations, comparison, and fear. Even now, there are moments when I have to lay down the fallacy of perfectionism, self-doubt, and the pressure to prove myself even if only to myself. I am learning that obedience is more powerful than striving. Rest is sometimes more productive than pushing.

Jesus says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23, NIV). Following Christ isn’t always big and dramatic, sometimes it looks like staying committed when motivation fades, trusting when outcomes are unclear, and choosing faith when comfort would be easier. Surrender meant letting God define success…not just finishing strong but finishing faithful. Not just earning credentials, but becoming the kind of leader who reflects humility, courage, and compassion. Isaiah reminds us, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you” (Isaiah 26:3, NLT). Peace comes not from knowing every answer, but from knowing who holds them.

…to Beyond

Now that this chapter is complete, what’s next? Only God knows! My certainty lies in knowing He purposed me to serve, to mentor, to influence, and to lead with integrity and grace. This degree represents both a milestone and a mission. “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6, NASB). God will always finish what He starts…in our careers, our families, our education, our businesses, our communities, our leadership, and our hearts. Cheers to moving forward with gratitude, humility, and expectancy. Listening more closely. Trusting more deeply. Surrendering more fully. Because the greatest reward isn’t the thing I achieved, it’s becoming the woman God was shaping all along the way.

c’est la vie RN