The day before I started school, we had Nursing School Orientation. I remember I was so excited to finally see what I was in for. We hadn’t been told much of our schedule or really anything about what we were to expect or what was going on; everyone pretty much walked into this day blind. It was from 8am to 1pm and throughout those 5 hours, we got absolutely slammed with information, from all sides. We went from not knowing anything to knowing way more than our brains could handle along with assignments to read 5 chapters by the next morning. We were overwhelmed, to say the least. The weight of it was crushing, I couldn’t process it all. Then, towards the end of the day, our professors saw the look of defeat and fear in our face and I’ll never forget what they said to us “I want you to close your eyes. Remember that day you got your acceptance letter in the mail. Remember how you felt, how excited you were. Remember that feeling of seeing your hard work pay off. Think of that when you start to become overwhelmed.”
Now, seven weeks later, they’ve had us do that a few more times and it never fails to work. Once I remember how excited and thankful I was to get that letter, the more motivated I feel to push through the next year and a half. At the same time, I’ve noticed God teaching me that same lesson. When I think about and reflect on everything God has done in my life and all He’s brought me through already, it makes it that much easier to give Him everything and completely trust Him. Thankfulness is a direct link to trusting Him. He’s never given me any reason not to trust Him. Everything He’s ever done has been good. Also, I’ve noticed thankfulness is one sure way to help keep your eyes focused on God because you’ll always be thinking about the good things, which is a direct blessing from God, and how He’s taken care of you!
Psalm 77:11 says, “But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.” God knows we doubt, God knows our trust issues, it doesn’t surprise Him. I have a feeling that’s one of the many reasons He gave us His Word. The Bible is all about Jesus and how He has taken care of us and will continue to do so; it contains thousands upon thousands of reasons to trust Him. Once we can remember what God has done in the past, we’ll remember His promises for the present and for our future and then we can start acting in faith!
Now, seven weeks later, they’ve had us do that a few more times and it never fails to work. Once I remember how excited and thankful I was to get that letter, the more motivated I feel to push through the next year and a half. At the same time, I’ve noticed God teaching me that same lesson. When I think about and reflect on everything God has done in my life and all He’s brought me through already, it makes it that much easier to give Him everything and completely trust Him. Thankfulness is a direct link to trusting Him. He’s never given me any reason not to trust Him. Everything He’s ever done has been good. Also, I’ve noticed thankfulness is one sure way to help keep your eyes focused on God because you’ll always be thinking about the good things, which is a direct blessing from God, and how He’s taken care of you!
Psalm 77:11 says, “But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.” God knows we doubt, God knows our trust issues, it doesn’t surprise Him. I have a feeling that’s one of the many reasons He gave us His Word. The Bible is all about Jesus and how He has taken care of us and will continue to do so; it contains thousands upon thousands of reasons to trust Him. Once we can remember what God has done in the past, we’ll remember His promises for the present and for our future and then we can start acting in faith!