ç'est la vie RN

Tag: cestlaviern

  • When You Leave, Who Will Be Ready?

    When You Leave, Who Will Be Ready?

    Lately, I’ve been pondering something that extends far beyond nursing or healthcare…What happens when the people who have been holding certain positions for decades finally step away?

    I’m talking about the leaders in our organizations; individuals who faithfully serve in church ministries, volunteers who carry community initiatives, and the professionals whose experience and institutional knowledge are invaluable. Actually, even our patriarchs and matriarchs!

    Many of these individuals are part of the baby boomer generation, and let me be clear: I am not suggesting that anyone should be forced to retire, resign, or relinquish a position simply because of their age. Experience is valuable, and continued service deserves respect.

    However, I do believe there is an opportunity to close the gap. Because at some point in our journey, our greatest contribution is no longer simply what we accomplish in a position, but who we prepare to serve after us?

    A Seat Is Not a Succession Plan

    In so many spaces, it’s easy to identify the person we believe should come next. They have potential and enthusiasm. Someone may even tell them, “One day, you will be the one doing this.”

    But what is happening between today and one day to prepare them?

    Are we sharing what we’ve learned? Are we inviting them into conversations that broaden their understanding? Are we giving them opportunities to practice, while holding space to make mistakes, ask questions, and develop confidence?

    Or are we simply assuming they will figure it out when their time comes?

    The reality is, one day, whether through retirement, career change, a new calling, or life circumstances, the people currently occupying these spaces must move on. And when they do, the position may be vacant, but that doesn’t mean someone is genuinely prepared to fill it.

    We Were Never Meant to Keep It All to Ourselves

    Scripture offers a beautiful reminder of the responsibility to invest in others…

    In 2 Timothy 2:2 (NIV), Paul instructs Timothy to entrust what he has learned to reliable people who will also be capable of teaching others. The expectation wasn’t simply that Timothy would receive knowledge and become proficient himself. He was also responsible for preparing others who could continue passing it along.

    In Titus 2:3–4 (NIV), Paul speaks specifically about older women teaching and guiding younger women. Although the passage addresses a particular setting and population, it is a reminder of the value of wisdom shared across generations.

    Then, in Ephesians 4:11–13 (NIV), Paul describes leaders and teachers being given to equip others for service and help them mature.

    Outside of Paul being the author of all these passages, there is also a consistent theme:

    What we are given is not meant to end with us.

    I believe that principle extends into how we serve our families, professions, communities, and ministries. We cannot become so attached to what we do that we forget the value of helping someone else learn to do it, too. After all, our identity is greater than any position we hold.

    An Unexpected Conversation

    It was my last day of clinical with a group of nursing students this semester. They are aware I am transitioning into a new professional role. At the end of the shift, one student asked whether they will still be able to reach out to me when they have questions or need advice. My response was immediate.

    Absolutely!

    I then shared an idea that has been marinating in my mind for some time: creating a mentorship cohort to support student nurses. I hadn’t fully developed the idea, but shared it anyway. To my surprise, every student in that clinical group expressed interest.

    One student even mentioned that two students I taught from a previous clinical group would probably want to participate as well. That moment stayed with me. It affirmed something I believe we sometimes overlook.

    People are hungry for guidance.

    They’re eager for someone to share what experience has taught them. Someone who can help them navigate uncertainty, recognize their strengths, and develop the confidence to move forward.

    And that hunger isn’t limited to younger generations. It’s present in anyone entering an unfamiliar season, accepting a new responsibility, or preparing to walk a path someone else has already traveled. Sometimes, people aren’t asking us to open a door for them; they’re asking us to help them become ready to walk through it.

    Your Experience Is Someone Else’s Opportunity

    In Romans 12:6–8 (NIV), Paul reminds us that we have different gifts and encourages us to put them to use. Among those gifts are serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, and leading. These gifts are not dependent upon a job title.

    You don’t have to be a director to develop a leader. You don’t have to be a professor to teach someone something valuable. You don’t have to lead a ministry to strengthen another person’s faith. And you certainly don’t have to establish a formal coaching business to make an investment in someone’s future.

    Mentorship sometimes looks like an honest conversation over coffee.

    It means allowing someone to observe how you handle a difficult situation.

    It’s offering encouragement when a person begins questioning whether they belong in a particular space.

    And often times, it’s being willing to share lessons you learned the hard way so someone else doesn’t have to repeat every one of your mistakes.

    This kind of investment doesn’t always require money. Often, it requires something equally valuable: our time, attention, humility, and willingness to serve. While we may have experience to share, we should remain open to what the next generation can teach us, too.

    We are all both teachers and learners throughout our lives.

    What Will Remain After You Move On?

    I think one of the greatest measures of our influence is not simply what we accomplished while we occupied a position, but what continues to grow because we were there.

    Who became more confident because you encouraged them?

    Who discovered a gift because you recognized it before they did?

    Who was better prepared because you made yourself available?

    Who will eventually pour into someone else because of what you first poured into them?

    We won’t always occupy the same seats. Nor should our sense of purpose be confined to them. There will come a season when our greatest opportunity isn’t to remain at the forefront, but to walk alongside someone who is preparing for their own next chapter. That doesn’t diminish our value, it extends our impact.

    A Question for You…

    As you move through this week, I want you to consider something:

    Who are you serving today?

    Who is coming up behind you who could benefit from the knowledge, wisdom, skills, or gifts you’ve been entrusted with?

    You don’t need a formal program, a fancy title, or financial compensation to make a difference. Start with one person. Offer your time. Share what you know. Be willing to listen. Help them grow. Perhaps that’s one of the most meaningful ways we can serve: ensuring that what God has placed within us continues to bear fruit in someone else’s life.

    Because the real question isn’t simply who will take our place when we leave, it’s did we help them become ready before that day arrives?

    That’s life right now…

  • Not Just Any Door

    Not Just Any Door

    It’s funny how quickly things can change.

    This past week, I accepted not one, but two job offers in nursing academia. When I say things happened quickly, I’m talking less than a week from interview to offer. Now, here’s what makes that interesting…

    Since last August, I haven’t received a single offer for a leadership position in the acute care setting. Not one. There were more applications than I can count, conversations out of professional courtesy, interviews, and a few opportunities that seemed promising. But none of them resulted in an offer.

    Then, seemingly out of nowhere, two opportunities in nursing education present themselves. Same nurse. Same leadership. Same education. Same experience. Same qualifications.

    Different doors.

    And as I reflect on the events of this past week, I keep coming back to a prayer I prayed a few months ago.

    The Prayer Was Never Just About a Job

    When I hit the year mark back in August, I intentionally submitted my job search to God. I asked Him to place me where I could fulfill my purpose. I desired an environment where my gifts, experience, and calling would be used to make a meaningful impact.

    But there was another part of that prayer…This time, I specifically asked God to only open the door He wanted me to walk through.

    Not every door. Not the first available door. Not even the door that looked the most impressive on paper. Not the door with the most dollar signs on the other side.

    Only the right door.

    And I asked Him to make it clear enough that I wouldn’t have to guess. Why? Because I know myself. I’m educated, experienced, resourceful, and quite capable of figuring things out. Give me a problem, I’ll Olivia Pope it, come up with a plan, a backup plan, and probably a spreadsheet to go along with it.

    But I didn’t want to figure my way into something God hadn’t intended for me.

    I didn’t want my ambition to outrun my obedience.

    I didn’t want to confuse an opportunity with an assignment. And most importantly, I didn’t want to lean so heavily on my own understanding that I missed His direction. Proverbs 3:5 (NIV) reminds us:

    “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

    That’s easy to quote when everything is going according to our own plans. It’s an entirely different experience when your plan is stagnant or in pure chaos.

    My job search notebook from December 2025. The offers came when I made it to the end. Maybe next time, I’ll use a thinner notebook. 🙂

    People Perceive the Peace

    In general, people expect you to always be anxious or cantankerous when circumstances are trying, especially when it comes to finances. The norm is to be more frustrated. More anxious. Maybe even a little desperate.

    And don’t misunderstand me. I certainly had moments when I wondered what was next. I’m human. I like productivity, purpose, and a reason to get dressed in something other than my pajamas! But underneath those moments was a sense of peace that I couldn’t always explain.

    I prayed a very specific prayer.

    If I was asking God to close doors that weren’t meant for me, why would I become consumed with frustration when certain doors didn’t open? Now, I won’t pretend to know every reason an opportunity didn’t work out. Sometimes the answer is simply that another candidate was selected. That’s life. But I also believe God can use ordinary circumstances to direct our steps.

    And because of what I had prayed, I chose not to interpret every rejection as a personal failure. Maybe the absence of an offer wasn’t evidence that I lacked something. Maybe it was simply a door I didn’t need to walk through.

    There’s a difference between being disappointed about an outcome and allowing that outcome to disturb your peace. I was learning to experience one without surrendering the other.

    Clarity Is Worth Praying For

    One thing I learned is that we often pray for the outcome without praying for what we need to navigate the process. We ask God for the job, the relationship, the opportunity, the breakthrough, or the next chapter.

    But what about wisdom? What about discernment? What about the discipline to wait, the courage to move, or the humility to accept that our preferred outcome may not be the best one? James 1:5 (NLT) says:

    “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”

    I love that invitation!

    We can ask God for wisdom without pretending we already know the answer. And I became more specific in those conversations.

    Instead of only praying, “Lord, open a door…”

    • Lord, close the doors that would move me away from Your purpose.
    • Show me whether there is something I need to learn, change, prepare for, or release.
    • Give me a clear mind, free from unnecessary noise, fear, and distraction.
    • Help me recognize the guidance of the Holy Spirit rather than confusing it with my own desires.
    • Give me discipline to do my part and surrender to what I cannot control.
    • And when it’s time to move, give me the courage to obey.

    Because surrender doesn’t mean we stop participating in our own lives. I still had to apply. I still had to interview. I still had to prepare and present myself well. Faith did not eliminate my responsibility. It changed how I carried it. I could do my part without believing I had to control every outcome.

    When the Direction Becomes Clear

    Isaiah 30:21 (NLT) describes hearing God’s guidance, including the assurance,

    “This is the way you should go.”

    What a beautiful picture! Not necessarily having the entire journey explained, but being guided in the direction of the next step. That’s where I find myself today. I’m preparing to begin a new chapter in nursing academia, and I’m genuinely excited about the possibilities.

    For years, much of my professional identity has been connected to nursing leadership in clinical operations. While I still deeply value that work and believe in its ability to impact, I’m recognizing that leadership doesn’t look the same in every season.

    Sometimes leadership means developing the people who will eventually lead. Sometimes influence shifts from managing the environment where care is delivered to preparing the nurses who will deliver that care. And sometimes purpose remains the same, even when the assignment changes.

    I don’t know everything this next chapter will hold or every opportunity or challenge waiting on the other side of these doors. But I don’t have to know everything to take the next faithful step. That’s part of the surrender, too.

    For the Person Who Wonders What’s Next

    If you’re reading this while sitting in a season of uncertainty, I want to encourage you. Maybe you’ve been applying for jobs with no success. Maybe you’re questioning a relationship, reconsidering a decision, or wondering whether it’s time to make a significant change. Maybe everyone around you seems to be moving forward while you feel stuck in the same place. Before you decide that nothing is happening, consider what you’ve been praying for. If you haven’t been specific, start there.

    Ask God for direction, not just deliverance from an uncomfortable season. Ask Him for wisdom, not simply the outcome you prefer. Ask whether there’s something you need to do, something you need to stop doing, or something you need to release. Ask for a mind quiet enough to recognize His guidance and a heart willing to follow it. And remember that waiting on God and preparing for what’s next are not mutually exclusive.

    Keep growing. Keep learning. Keep showing up. Keep doing what is yours to do.

    But resist the temptation to force something simply because you’re uncomfortable with the waiting. Not every opportunity is your assignment, and not every closed door is a defeat.

    I can’t promise that your next opportunity will arrive within a week. I can’t promise that the answer will always be unmistakable or that every prayer will unfold the way you imagine. But I can encourage you to trust that God is worthy of your dependence, even when the details are uncertain.

    As for me, I’m walking into this new chapter grateful, expectant, and reminded of something I don’t ever want to forget…I didn’t ask God to open every door. I asked Him to open the right one. Perhaps the greatest gift in this season isn’t simply that a door finally opened. It’s that I didn’t have to force it.

    That’s life right now…

  • Just Gimme the Goal!

    Just Gimme the Goal!

    We’re settling into the fourth quarter of the year, and if you’re anything like me, this is the time to start taking inventory. What did I accomplish? What goals are still within reach? What unexpected opportunities or challenges showed up along the way?

    As I revisited my goals for 2026, one in particular stood out: publish my DNP project in a peer-reviewed nursing journal.

    I completed my DNP last December and submitted my manuscript for publication during the first quarter of this year. In April, I received tentative acceptance, with instructions that additional information would follow as the publication date approached.

    Well, that information arrived about a month ago. The final edits are due October 26th, with the manuscript being scheduled for the January 2027 issue.

    And what did I do?

    Yes, I waited until last week to really dig into those edits. Now, before anybody judges me, trust me, I’ve already had a conversation with myself about the procrastination. We’re good. But here’s where things got interesting…

    As I worked through the requested revisions, I discovered that two graphics I wanted to include required copyright permissions. Permissions I hadn’t obtained.

    And the irony? I just published a book a couple of months ago. I KNOW how this works! But somehow, the distinction between using materials for an academic project and republishing them in a professional journal hadn’t fully registered.

    Suddenly, something I was excited about became something I was thoroughly irritated with. And for a brief moment, I thought…You know what? I don’t even want to do this anymore.

    When Desire Meets Dread

    During my quiet time this morning, I found myself reflecting on how often we pursue things—or even pray for things—without fully understanding what they’ll require of us.

    We want the promotion, but haven’t considered the additional responsibility.

    We want the business, but underestimate the constant sacrifices.

    We want the degree, the opportunity, the platform, or the achievement, but don’t always account for the process that accompanies it.

    In Luke 14:28 (NASB), Jesus uses the illustration of someone planning to build a tower, emphasizing the importance of first calculating the cost. Although He was teaching about the cost of discipleship, the principle of considering what we’re committing to is worth reflecting on.

    Sometimes we count the reward before we’ve counted the cost. And when that cost becomes apparent, our enthusiasm starts negotiating with our commitment.

    Is It Hard, or Do I Just Not Want to Do It?

    Here’s what I had to admit to myself: these manuscript revisions are not beyond my ability. They’re tedious. They’re time-consuming. They require research, attention to detail, and learning a process I’m not yet familiar with. And frankly, I just don’t feel like doing all that!

    But discomfort and difficulty aren’t always the same thing. James 1:4 (NIV) reminds us to let perseverance complete its work so that we may become mature and complete. That verse challenged me to consider something: What if the process isn’t just preparing the accomplishment, but also preparing me?

    Once I navigate this publication process, I’ll have knowledge and experience that I can apply to future manuscripts. I’ll never gain that experience if I quit simply because the process is inconvenient.

    Don’t Forsake What You Asked For

    Galatians 6:9 (NIV) encourages us not to grow weary in doing good, reminding us that a harvest comes in due time if we don’t give up. Now, that doesn’t mean every goal we set is something God has ordained, or that every pursuit must be carried through at all costs. But it does mean we should examine our reasons for wanting to quit.

    Is God redirecting us? Have our priorities genuinely changed? Or are we simply frustrated because the journey requires more than we anticipated?

    As for me, I have some edits to finish. Not because I’m suddenly excited about copyright permissions and manuscript revisions, but because I still believe this goal is worth pursuing.

    And perhaps that’s part of maturity: learning that commitment doesn’t always come with enthusiasm. Sometimes you just have to do the work.

    Before You Abandon Ship…

    If there’s something you’ve been working toward that’s beginning to feel more like a burden than a blessing, I want to encourage you to do three things:

    Revisit your why.

    Reassess your commitment.

    Identify your next step.

    Not every goal is meant to be pursued. Sometimes circumstances change, priorities shift, and God redirects our paths. Don’t mistake frustration for redirection or inconvenience for a closed door.

    If the goal still matters, give yourself permission to acknowledge the frustration without allowing it to make the decision for you. Then take one intentional step forward. It doesn’t have to be a giant leap. It may simply be a prayer for clarity or obedience.

    And remember, you don’t have to enjoy every part of the process to appreciate what it’s producing in you. Sometimes growth looks a whole lot like doing the thing you don’t feel like doing.

    That’s life right now…

  • Do It Uninspired

    Do It Uninspired

    I almost don’t write today.

    Not because anything is necessarily wrong. I’m not having some major crisis. I’m not questioning my purpose or reconsidering every decision I’ve ever made. Just not feeling it. No burst of inspiration. No clever opening line. No profound thought waiting to spill onto the page.

    Just…meh.

    And while I’m trying to convince myself that I need to feel motivated before I can write something worth sharing, I think about Elijah.

    Sometimes You Need a Nap and a Snickers

    If you’re familiar with 1 Kings 18–19, Elijah is coming off an incredible victory. God shows up in a BIG way on Mount Carmel. You would think Elijah is riding that spiritual high for at least a little while.

    Nope.

    By the next chapter, Elijah is scared, exhausted, running for his life, and sitting under a tree asking God if he can basically be done with all of it. And do you know what I love about God’s response?

    He doesn’t start with a sermon. He doesn’t say, “Elijah, after everything I just did, this is how you’re acting?” He doesn’t hand him a five-step productivity plan.

    God lets that man take a nap. Then an angel wakes him up and tells him:

    “Get up and eat.” – 1 Kings 19:5 NIV

    In Tiffany translation? Baby, take a nap and have the biblical equivalent of a Snickers. 😂 And then Elijah goes back to sleep! The angel comes back a second time with more food because, as Scripture says:

    “…the journey is too much for you” – 1 Kings 19:7 NIV

    Can we sit there for a minute? God acknowledges that the journey is a lot. Sometimes you aren’t lazy. You aren’t losing your passion. You aren’t on the wrong path. Sometimes you are simply tired, and everything feels heavier when you’re depleted.

    Eventually, You Have to Get Up

    Here’s the other side of that story. God doesn’t leave Elijah under the tree. Rest is part of the process. It isn’t the final destination. That matters because sometimes what we call “needing motivation” is really needing rest. But sometimes? We just don’t feel like doing the thing. And there’s a difference. Galatians 6:9 reminds us:

    “Let us not become weary in doing good…” – Galatians 6:9 NIV

    There are going to be days when the excitement isn’t there. You won’t always feel inspired to work toward the goal. You won’t always feel inspired to exercise, write, study, apply, build, forgive, serve, show up, or start again. Sometimes, whatever it is, you have to do it uninspired. Not because your feelings don’t matter, but because feelings make terrible project managers.

    Low Energy Doesn’t Equate to Lack

    This may be the part I need to remember today. A low-energy day doesn’t mean you’ve lost your purpose. Likewise, a difficult week doesn’t erase what God has called you to. And a season that feels ordinary doesn’t mean nothing meaningful is happening, or meaningful things can happen in ordinary seasons (for the positive thinkers).

    Elijah has purpose before the broom tree. He has purpose while he is lying under the broom tree. And he still has purpose when God tells him it’s time to get moving again. The exhaustion doesn’t cancel the assignment. Neither does yours. Colossians 3:23 says:

    “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart…” – Colossians 3:23 NIV

    Notice it doesn’t say, whatever you feel excited about today. Sometimes purpose has to carry you when motivation doesn’t show up. So before you decide you need to quit, change everything, or dramatically rethink your entire life, ask yourself a simpler question:

    What do I actually need today?

    Maybe you need rest.

    Maybe you need nourishment.

    Maybe you need to remember why you started.

    And maybe you simply need to stop waiting to feel inspired and take the next small step.

    As for me? I don’t feel like writing today. But here we are. Sometimes you just have to do it uninspired.

    Reflect, Realign, Repeat

    What is one thing you’ve been waiting to feel like doing that may simply require you to just take the next step? And before you answer that…

    Have you eaten today? Because Elijah would probably tell you not to underestimate the power of a nap and a snack. 😉

    That’s life right now…

  • Blocking Your Own Belonging

    Blocking Your Own Belonging

    I see some version of the same conversation online all the time (specifically about Dallas, TX):

    It’s hard to make friends here.

    I can’t find community.

    I only want to go to certain types of events.

    I need a smaller church because you can’t really build relationships at a big one.

    And listen, I understand the desire underneath all of that. People want connection. But I’m beginning to wonder…is community actually the thing most people are searching for? I think they’re looking for belonging. There is a difference.

    You can have a community at work. A church community. A neighborhood community. A group you brunch with, serve with, worship with, work out with, or see every Thursday night.

    Belonging is different.

    Belonging says, “These are my people.”

    These are the people who know more than the polished version of me. The people who can celebrate me without competing with me, correct me without condemning me, pray for me when I don’t have the words, and tell me the truth when everybody else is nodding along.

    While Jesus certainly modeled community, He also modeled levels of relationship. Jesus had crowds. He had disciples. He chose the Twelve. Mark 3:14 tells us He appointed them “that they might be with him.” But even within the Twelve, there were three (Peter, James, and John) who were invited into moments the others were not.

    They were with Him at the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1).

    They went farther with Him into Gethsemane (Matthew 26:37).

    They were brought into intimate moments of ministry and vulnerability. Jesus loved many people. He served many people. Jesus was also accessible to many people. But all those people did not occupy the same relational space…neither should they.

    Know What You Truly Need

    This is where I think people sometimes get community wrong. They keep waiting to fall into the perfect friend group. They want to walk into the right church, attend the right event, join the right organization, or move into the right neighborhood and somehow immediately meet the three or four people who understand them perfectly, share their values, know when they’re joking, remember their coffee order, pray like heaven is listening, and are available for emergency FaceTimes.

    Listen y’all…that is a lot of expectation to put on minimal moments.

    Deep relationships generally aren’t discovered fully formed. They are built. Building them requires your participation. If you have already decided:

     I don’t go to those events.

    I don’t attend churches like that.

    Those aren’t my type of people.

    I wouldn’t fit in there.

    Then you may be asking God for connection while simultaneously eliminating places where connection could happen. And that doesn’t mean every room is your room. Discernment matters. However, there is a difference between discernment and preference.

    Sometimes you have already designed the package your blessing has to arrive in, and then wonder why you haven’t received it.

    Ask God Where and Who

    Relationships this important probably shouldn’t be built haphazardly. Jesus Himself was intentional about whom He called close. Luke tells us that before Jesus selected the Twelve, He spent the night praying to God (Luke 6:12-13).

    Don’t miss that!

    Before selection came prayer. So perhaps one of the best prayers for someone longing for deeper community isn’t simply:

    God, send me some friends.

    Maybe it is:

    God, show me where I need to be. Show me who I need to notice. Give me discernment about who should come closer, and wisdom about who should remain in another circle.

    We can probably agree that everybody you meet doesn’t have to become your best friend. But you also don’t want to overlook someone simply because they arrived somewhere you didn’t expect to find them.

    You Have to Open the Door Too

    There is another part of building your tribe that we don’t talk about enough; you have to let people know you. Real belonging requires some degree of vulnerability. Look at Simon (Peter).

    In Luke 5, Jesus didn’t simply walk up and ask that Simon rearrange his entire life around someone he didn’t know. There was an interaction. Jesus stepped into Simon’s boat. He taught. He told Simon where to let down his nets. Simon had already been fishing all night and caught nothing, but he trusted Jesus enough to try again. Then the nets filled.

    And after that encounter Jesus told him, “from now on you will fish for people” (Luke 5:10).

    There was invitation, experience, trust, and then deeper relationship.

    We sometimes want people to trust us deeply while revealing very little of ourselves. Is it reasonable to expect loyalty without vulnerability? Understanding without communication? Support without allowing anyone to see where we actually need support?

    Relationships deepen when somebody has the courage to go first. Not irresponsibly or without boundaries, but honestly. Eventually somebody has to say, “Hey, I’m struggling with this.”

    Somebody has to send the first text.

    Somebody has to extend the invitation.

    Somebody has to say, You crossed my mind today, so I prayed for you.

    Somebody has to risk hearing, No, I can’t make it.

    And then, invite again another time.

    Be mindful though, not every invitation will not be accepted, and every connection will not become your connection. Please don’t make every closed door mean something is wrong with you. Sometimes people are busy. Sometimes the chemistry simply isn’t there. Sometimes the relationship you hoped would deepen was only meant to be seasonal or remain on the outer edge of your circle.

    Many times, what feels like rejection may actually be God’s protection or redirection. You may not know what He knows about that person, that group, or that environment. So don’t take every “no,” unanswered text, awkward interaction, or failed attempt as a cue to retreat from people altogether. Pray about it. Learn what you need to learn. And keep putting yourself out there.

    Prayerfully.

    Because one closed door does not mean you stop knocking on doors altogether.

    Real Tribe Talk

    And while we’re building our proverbial three, let’s clear up something else; your tribe is not your personal fan club. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

    Sharpening involves friction.

    Your people should love you enough to tell you when you’re wrong. They should be able to ask, Have you prayed about that? They should notice when you’re shrinking, spiraling, isolating, overcommitting, settling, or moving outside of what you said God called you to do. And you should be able to do the same for them. Your tribe walks beside you, but they don’t blindly follow you. They help you become who God is calling you to be.

    Go Find Your Tribe

    Maybe you’re in a season where you already have a strong tribe.

    Cherish them.

    Pray for them.

    Show up for them.

    Don’t become so accustomed to good relationships that you forget how valuable they are! If you’re currently praying for deeper friendships, don’t just wait for people to arrive. Ask God where He wants you. Go somewhere new when He nudges you.

    Stay open.

    Start conversations.

    Serve.

    Accept an invitation you would normally decline.

    Extend one yourself.

    And if one attempt doesn’t work out, resist the urge to make it mean you should stop trying. Let God close the doors that need closing without allowing those doors to close you. Then keep moving. When someone seems worth knowing more deeply, give the relationship enough time and honesty to grow.

    Ecclesiastes reminds us, “Two are better than one” because they can help one another when one falls (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).

    We were never designed to do all of life alone.

    So, perhaps the prayer isn’t simply for more community. Perhaps it’s for the wisdom to recognize your people, the courage to let them know you, and the commitment to keep showing up long enough for community to become belonging.

    You don’t need everybody…But everybody needs somebody.

    What barrier have you created—fear, preference, past rejection, comfort, or assumptions about where “your people” should be—and what is one prayerful step you can take this week to move beyond it?

    Pray.

    Pay attention.

    Be open.

    That’s life right now…

  • The Lions Don’t Get the Last Word

    The Lions Don’t Get the Last Word

    Yesterday, I attended the NTONL Fall Forum, surrounded by nursing leaders I respect; some of whom I have the privilege of serving alongside on the board.

    One thing stood out to me: excellence.

    Not perfection. Not titles. Not polished résumés. Excellence.

    There is something refreshing about being in a room with people who care deeply about doing the work well. People who understand that leadership carries responsibility. People who still believe quality matters, integrity matters, and how we show up matters.

    But if I’m being truthful, practicing with excellence can sometimes feel almost asinine. Especially when you look around and see chaos being normalized, mediocrity being tolerated, and shortcuts becoming standard operating procedure. And nursing certainly doesn’t have a monopoly on this.

    I’ve had similar conversations with my siblings who work in completely different industries. Eventually, some version of the same question surfaces:

    Should I just digress to what everybody else is doing?

    If nobody else seems bothered, why should I be? If doing the bare minimum is acceptable, why am I stressing myself trying to do more? If people are cutting corners and still getting promoted, recognized, paid, and praised, what exactly is the benefit of maintaining a higher standard?

    Then, Saturday morning, my Bible-in-a-Year reading started in Daniel 6.

    And there was my answer…

    Daniel Was Different

    Daniel had been appointed as one of three administrators overseeing the kingdom. But Scripture tells us something interesting about him:

    Daniel 6:3 NIV — Daniel “distinguished himself … by his exceptional qualities.”

    His excellence became visible. King Darius noticed it and planned to place Daniel over the entire kingdom. That’s the part of excellence we like.

    Recognition.

    Opportunity.

    Influence.

    Promotion.

    The moment when somebody finally sees the consistency, discipline, wisdom, and effort you’ve been putting in when nobody appeared to be paying attention.

    But Daniel’s excellence attracted something else too…

    Opposition.

    The other leaders began looking for a reason to bring charges against him. They examined his work, his leadership, and his conduct. They couldn’t find corruption or negligence. Think about that. Daniel was so consistent that his enemies had to attack his faith because they couldn’t find anything wrong with his work.

    Sometimes excellence gets you promoted.

    Sometimes excellence gets you plotted against.

    And sometimes it does both at the same time.

    Excellence Can Make People Uncomfortable

    That realization matters because we sometimes interpret resistance as evidence that we’re doing something wrong. Not necessarily.

    Your consistency can expose somebody else’s inconsistency without you saying a word.

    Your integrity may make shortcuts more obvious.

    Your preparation can highlight someone else’s lack of preparation.

    Your refusal to participate in dysfunction can disrupt environments that have grown comfortable with dysfunction. That doesn’t mean we become arrogant. Excellence without humility quickly becomes self-righteousness. But humility doesn’t require us to lower the standard either. There is a difference between believing you are better than people and deciding you will consistently give your best. Scripture gives us a simple reason for doing so:

    Colossians 3:23 NIV — “work at it with all your heart.”

    Our standard cannot constantly fluctuate according to whoever happens to be standing beside us. Because ultimately, we aren’t working simply to outperform other people. We are stewarding what God entrusted to us.

    So, Should You Digress?

    No.

    Not because excellence guarantees a promotion. Daniel proves it doesn’t guarantee popularity either. And certainly not because excellence means everything will always work in your favor. Keep your standard because who and whose you are, matters.

    Keep studying.

    Keep preparing.

    Keep treating people well.

    Keep following through.

    Keep telling the truth.

    Keep doing what you said you would do.

    Keep practicing your craft.

    Keep living with integrity.

    Even when mediocrity would be easier because somewhere along the way, excellence becomes reputation. Reputation becomes trust. Trust creates opportunities you may never have been able to manufacture for yourself.

    And When Excellence Attracts Opposition…

    Remember how Daniel 6 ends…

    The people who schemed against Daniel succeeded in getting him into the lions’ den, but they could not determine the outcome once he got there.

    God did. (Insert audible praise!!!)

    Daniel told the king that God sent an angel to shut the lions’ mouths. That may be my favorite reminder from this entire story. People may have influence over the circumstances, but God still has authority over the outcome!

    So when doing things the right way feels lonely, unnecessary, or even costly, remember who stands with you:

    Psalm 46:7 NIV — “The LORD Almighty is with us.”

    Or, as I was reminded this morning:

    The God of heaven’s armies is on our side.

    So no, I don’t think we digress.

    We keep showing up.

    We keep growing.

    We keep serving.

    We keep moving in excellence.

    Not because everyone around us will appreciate it. And trust me, excellence will not necessarily always make life easier. But when God has entrusted you with an assignment, lowering your standard simply because mediocrity has become common is far too expensive a price to pay.

    Let them notice.

    Let them applaud.

    Let them misunderstand.

    And yes…if necessary, let them hate. Just don’t let them change who God has called you to be.

    That’s life right now…

  • When Life Feels Like a Texas Summer

    When Life Feels Like a Texas Summer

    If you live in Texas, you already know…

    Summer does not politely make its entrance. It kicks the door open, turns the thermostat up, and then seemingly forgets to leave. This past month we had a stretch of days when the temperature climbed to around 109 degrees. Not that high as of recent, yet still brutally hot.

    And listen, I don’t care how long you’ve lived here, 109 is just plain disrespectful. You walk outside and immediately regret it. The steering wheel is hot. The seat is hot. The air is hot. Even the breeze feels like somebody opened an oven door. And when you look at the forecast, there doesn’t appear to be much relief coming. More sunshine. More triple digits. More of the same.

    But here’s the funny thing…

    I have absolutely no concern that it will still be 109 degrees in December. None. I don’t need to see a cold front on today’s forecast to know that eventually this heat will break. Why? Because I know what season I’m in. And I know seasons change.

    Maybe somebody needs this reminder today.

    Because when life gets hard, we sometimes forget that the same thing is true.

    When the Forecast Says More of the Same

    There are seasons of life that feel like they have lasted entirely too long.

    You’ve prayed.

    You’ve waited.

    You’ve adjusted.

    You’ve tried to be faithful.

    You’ve told yourself, God is working.

    And yet, when you look around, everything seems to say:

    More waiting.

    More stretching.

    More uncertainty.

    More pruning.

    More becoming.

    And after a while, even growth can hurt. Jesus tells us in John 15 that God prunes branches that are already producing fruit so they can become even more fruitful.

    “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
    John 15:2, NIV

    Did you catch that? Pruning isn’t always evidence that something is wrong. Sometimes you are being cut because something is right. God may be removing what cannot go where He is taking you. Sometimes He is reducing your dependence on things that once made you comfortable. He is exposing places in you that need healing, strengthening, surrendering, or simply growing up.

    And none of that feels particularly wonderful while it is happening.

    But This Is Only a Season

    Ecclesiastes 3:1 says:

    “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”
    Ecclesiastes 3:1, NIV

    A season.

    Not a permanent address.

    That distinction matters.

    Because when something has been difficult for a long time, we can begin to believe that this is how life is going to be. We start building permanent conclusions around temporary circumstances. We play the maybe game in our head:

    Maybe it will always be this hard.

    Maybe this door will never open.

    Maybe I’ll always feel this unsettled.

    Maybe I’m never going to understand why God allowed this.

    But you don’t know that. You are looking at today’s forecast and trying to predict December. And God has already seen your entire lifetime. There is an end to this season. That doesn’t mean everything will end exactly the way you want it to. Sometimes the change comes because God changes the circumstance. Other times, the circumstance remains for a while and God changes us so deeply that we no longer enter it as the person we were before.

    Either way, seasons do what seasons do. They transition.

    Don’t Waste the Heat

    This is probably the hard part. If we’re going to be here for a minute, we might as well ask God what He intends to produce here.

    Not just:

    God, when are You getting me out?

    But also:

    God, what are You trying to get into me before I leave?

    Wisdom? Patience? Discernment? Courage? Better boundaries? A deeper prayer life? Freedom from needing everybody’s approval? Enough confidence in Him that you no longer panic every time the forecast doesn’t look favorable?

    Because there are some things that can only be developed in the heat. And Scripture gives us this promise:

    “In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.”
    1 Peter 5:10, NLT

    After a little while… I know. Some of our (I am right there with you) “little whiles” have felt mighty long. His promise still stands. So, if you’re walking through a season right now that feels like Texas in the summertime—hot, relentless, uncomfortable, and showing absolutely no signs of letting up—don’t let today’s forecast convince you that today’s conditions are permanent.

    You may not see the relief yet…That does not mean relief isn’t coming.

    You may not understand the pruning yet; that does not mean God isn’t producing something through it. You may not recognize yourself in this season…Maybe that’s because you’re not supposed to leave it as the same person who entered it.

    Keep going.

    Stay close to the LORD.

    Let Him do the work.

    And remember…

    It won’t always be 109 degrees.

    And it won’t always feel like this either.

    That’s life right now…

    #CestLaVieRN #Encouragements #Season #Growth #Jesus #God #Christianity #FaithJourney