As I prepare to travel in a few days, I have been struggling to tread above water. The reality of businesses in our healthcare field consistently face old and new challenges over the years. I remember back to being a new intern pharmacist and asking my preceptors/mentors at Savon’s if they were happy with their jobs… and they noted the fulfillment of their professions while pointing out that the joy was being slowly sucked away by cuts in insurance reimbursements. Mind you, this was 20 years ago, and the situation has not improved even the slightest. Now, I can see how our current culture and government tries to alleviate or end up bringing more challenges to the healthcare field…. and while the healthcare workers suffer, the patients are the ones who ultimately suffer the most. Benefits shrink constistantly.. and we can only offer so much help while struggling to keep up with the increased demands before we as workers burn out.
While this may seem like an unending cycle that leads to hopelessness, my hope continues to hold strong not in my own abilities (which I have none as this week’s work was BRUuuuTAL) or even in the circumstances surrounding me: I still hold faith that the Lord God is still in control, being 100% sovereign. I sit and listen to MercyMe’s Even If and just weep over the words: “I know You’re able and I know You can, Save through the fire with Your mighty hand, But even if You don’t, My hope is You alone”. I weep over the loss I still hold so deeply and close to my heart of the people and seasons that had been so dear to me. And know that while He didn’t change my circumstances to avoid the pain in my life, He used them to refine and shape me to better endurance, a deeper joy, and a heartier foundation.
While I wanted to do something like a 30 Day Thanksgiving Challenge that’s trending right now, I don’t have the space for it unfortunately. But I AM thankful – beyond words. And I hope and pray that you will be able to take a moment daily to sit in that thankfulness, not because you have it better than someone else but because God loves you so so danged much to leave you where you’re at.
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