My Heart's Cry For Peace

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Last night, I was scheduled to work at the prison’s Intake [where new arrestees arrive from the streets from cops’ cars]. I haven’t been there in a while. And as my anxiety of uncertain things to come started coming, I chose not to let those overwhelm me.


I went into my room before taking a nap and decided to talk with Him. I didn’t need to search. I knew what I was looking for. My right hand’s digits opened the Bible to “Psalm 91”. I knew I needed that protection that He provides.


Prior to that, I visited sister Mary . I had known her as one of my long time bloggy friends and someone who just incessantly pray. I know a lot of you are praying for me. And this is just a moment for me to let you all know how much I appreciate all of you knowing how vital it is that we pray for each other, too. I truly am very grateful to have met each one of you and in you, I have the best assurance that I am covered with your awesome prayers as I walk into the well-guarded facility, but open and vulnerable to spiritual attacks.

This is how the night went:

The charge nurse had me working in the office. But there was a new nurse requesting to work with me at Intake so she could be exposed more and learn more. As much as I hated to be at Intake, I thought, “Is it You Oh Lord Who wants me there? For whatever reason, that’s fine with me. But I need You. I need Your protection, Your wisdom. No drama for me tonight Lord. And if it’s not too much to ask of You, may it be a quiet night?” I silently prayed.

Friday nights are known to be bad nights at Intake. That’s when many bodies who regularly go to the bars go for a casual drink. Unfortunately, they make a bad decision of getting behind their wheels and that was how they were caught. Some were long time alcoholics whose faces became so familiar that when they get released on the previous nights, you just had that gut feeling that they would be back.

The PM nurse was busy, busy and loud! I could feel a lot of restless spirits [hard to explain]. Loud, talking with Sergeant and deputies. She hasn’t given me her report but I had already checked and logged on those inmates under Suicide Watch.

There were 2 bodies in each of the 2 safety cells that we had [where they are more serious than suicidal ones because they are always agitated and sometimes, hard to control without giving them a calming medicine]. The inmates lined-up were quiet but the amount of bodies just contributed to these distractions. Deputies were constantly yelling, calling whoever was needed to be processed and fingerprinted. Their mug shots taken. Some inmates resisted and were just too intoxicated to be talked to. They were thrown [not literally] into sobering cells until they could talk better. But that meant more bodies for me to check and make sure they were not having withdrawal symptoms from drinking too much or other illegal substances.

Along with the deputies’ yelling, people working at the Bridge were yelling, too, calling on each person to be booked. The orientee PM nurse was asking for my attention, as I was just screening an arrestee who came back from the hospital with doctor’s orders. She was requesting for me to teach her because the other nurse was busy and she was starting to panic because it was almost time to go.

I answered her questions patiently but in my mind, I was thinking I would be behind with my own work. My orientee came in and was also overwhelmed with the activities that seemed like a zoo!

I talked to the Lord in my mind and with a soft prayer, “It can’t be happening. I asked for Your protection, guidance, calm night, no drama! It is the opposite though, Lord. I am overwhelmed right now and my charting is piling up. I’m not complaining but I just need You to assist me. Then, I know I will be fine! Help me, Lord!”


In the next hour that followed, the PM nurse finally got done and decided she could give me her report. The new nurse working with me looked at me and sighed and with her eyes, I felt like she uttered, “Finally…” I heard a “Whew…” under her breath.

Until it was just her and I. I started telling her a few things how it should have really gone with the change of shift report. But now she knew that it was impossible to get an orderly report at times because it could be very hectic as she witnessed herself.

We kept talking. I kept teaching. She was listening. Phone calls. More arrestees came with medical issues. Got up and checked on those suicidal inmates and offered water to those who didn’t have access to the fountain.

2 hours had passed. The other nurse turned her head toward me and said, “I like working with you. I hope I have another opportunity with you. It was so loud earlier, chaotic and so restless like. But with just you here, it was calm, busy but you were calm. We got caught up with things and you were able to teach me at the same time. I don’t know if I’m going to last here. There are so many other nurses who are hard to work with.”

She was right! The peace and calm felt like a blanket that covered all the areas of Intake at that moment. The suicidal ones in safety cells were calm and asleep. They took water when I offered but calmly and would just go back right to sleep. They never caused me any problems. The yelling, pounding on the window drunks all went to sleep, some were just sitting up, quietly as if wondering why they ended on those cold floors of the sobering cells.

“Lord, I know it’s You! You did answer me! Thank You!”

To the other nurse I replied, “You know what’s my secret before coming to this place?”

“What? I wanna’ know.”

“Pray…I pray…because we have to.” [not minding what she would say about it by me saying that. Deep inside, it was just fitting to throw the glory back to the Lord and give a testimony at the same time].

“I believe that. I saw it…the calmness.” she replied.

“Don’t give up. I know it can be frustrating many times. But think about it, you came from a different setting. Everything here, you need to learn. I think you are doing great! I’ll say, give it about 3 more months. Don’t say you’ll quit.”

“3 months? Hmmm…That long? I don’t know if I can.”

“Yes, you can. Because I did. 9 years ago, I was in the same shoes. And another kind nurse told me the same words I told you just now. If I made it, then, surely you will, too. When I also came to really believe God and accept Him in my heart, it also changed everything, the way I look and see things.”

“Okay. I’ll try. Thank God I am with you tonight.”

“Thank God is right!” I added.

Sorry guys that this is too long. But I want to bring the point of how important it is to lift up everything in prayers, all our worries to our good Lord Who is always listening. And if we really follow His lead, you just never know if He will put someone in your path that needs encouragement, that needs to hear a testimony, not about us, but His grace, His provision, His love, His faithfulness. I can go on and on…Thank you for your prayers and thanks be to God Who answers our petitions! So, to Him be the glory forever and ever, in all ages of eternity to come! God bless all of you and may we keep on growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ!!!

Prayers surely open that door to PEACE

28 comments:

  1. you are so much of a blessing. You push past your fears and anxieties to be where God has put you to be a light in the darkness. Praying for you. Sarah.

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  2. Thank you for sharing last night with us. I specifically prayed for confidence since you haven't done that job for a while but then God put you on my heart twice to pray in the next few hours! He knew that nurse needed encouragement; so glad you were able to speak life into that situation. Have a great weekend, my friend.

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  3. God be with you precious one as you do His work, I love you, and I keep you in my prayers.

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  4. Thank you sisters Sarah, Mary and Denise! God bless you all!

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  5. Hi,
    What a beautiful posting for Spiritual Sundays! I could almost feel the anxiety you were feeling as everything swirled and milled around you. God DID answer your (and others') prayers last night because you asked Him to help you in your hours of need. I'm so glad you got to talk to the other nurse and I'm glad she has you to talk to also.


    Blessings,
    Jean

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  6. I thank you b/c I too have stood in those learning shoes of an RN. It is difficult when the "cranky" nurses would rather cast you aside. I praise GOD you recognize HIS presence and follow HIS lead in all situations loving, encouraging, and teaching others along the journey. GOD BLESS YOU for your patience, love, and steadfast spirit.
    Much love and continued prayers, andrea

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  7. Rosel,

    God wanted you to teach her more than how to deal in something calm and quiet. He wanted you to share with her that it is possible to do that job in the midst of complete chaos and still maintain peace. You know that God put you in the place to not only encourage and teach her, but so God could show her what faith in HIM can do. All things are possible to those that believe in God, even working in complete chaos for those 3 months.

    God is using you in so many great ways Rosel. Praise God for his wonders and the amazing ways He works and allows us to learn from it all.

    Love and Hugs ~ Kat

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  8. Hey. got your greetings on my blog. Thank you. I love your blog. Sarah

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  9. I love to read how God is in the middle of everything. Thank-you so much for sharing this story. My days go so much better when I pray before, and during, then I pray at the end of my work shift to say thank-you.
    Blessings,
    Ginger

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  10. What a great testimony. Thank you for sharing it with us. Sometimes when things don't go just like we think they should we doubt that God has heard or answered our prayers, but then we discover that he really did. He answered them in His own way. I'm so thankful that his ways are higher than our ways and he never makes a mistake.
    Blessings,
    Charlotte

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  11. Rosel,
    You have been in my prayers and thoughts lately. I too have experienced the anxiety you spoke of. Thank God HE has you in the palm of HIS hand. I am continuing to pray for you; please keep me in your prayers as well. I love you my friend.
    Your sister in Christ,
    Bren

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  12. Rosel,

    What a blessing the Lord gave the both of you! You were able to bless the new RN with your example of Gods peace in the midst of the storm and then you gave her hope and encouragement with your own personal testimony! I am sure the original nurse who gave you hope and encouragement all those years ago would be so happy to know the seeds she had sown went into fertile ground as it sounds the ones you planted have done as well! God is faithful and just to those who diligently seek HIM and you Rosel DO!!! Thankyou for the godly example you are daily and Praise the LORD for allowing you that peace and calm last night as you worked and taught for HIM!

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  13. In addition to a great blessing given, what a great lesson God taught last night -- about trusting Him and about His availability and willingness to help. I think both nurses got a lesson -- you and the new one. Am I wrong?

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  14. Rosel,
    You are so amazing my friend! What you have to go through on a daily basis is so astounding to me! I am so meek and timid in the face of such anxiety - and yet with GOD'S help - all things are possible! I believe that you do so well at your job because God walks beside you every step of the way! It is the only way to get through what you have to in a day - we HAVE to cling to him! What a great mentor/teacher you were to that new nurse. I hope that she takes your advice and sticks it out there. Maybe she will learn to trust in the Lord more through it all!

    With jobs like these the Lord really drives home the need to cling to Him. I don't think I could do what I do in a day WITHOUT Him in my job either! To the outside world (and to that nurse you were training) we are calm and collected - but through the trial and behind the scenes - we know that we are holding Jesus' hand THROUGH it all!

    Praise God that He is ALWAYS walking beside us - calming our fears and carrying us through the raging storms around us!
    Blessings to you my friend! I am praying for you!
    ((Hugs))
    Kymber

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  15. That young nurse is fortunate that she had you to help her learn an important secret to a calm existence in the midst of chaos.

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  16. So true--I often struggle with fears and have to constantly remind myself that In Him I live and Move and Have my Being---I like Brother Lawrences little book called, Practicing the Presence of God....I want to always be aware of His presence even when things are hectic. I do have a friend that so often is just such a reflection of God's peace---I want more of this in my life.

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  17. i am grateful to find God's peace whenever i am in need of it..

    hugs
    ~Silver

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  18. "Amen" to all the encouraging comments you have received. You are in my prayers.

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  19. Thank you all precious friends. God bless and may you all have a wonderful week ahead, knowing that you are not traveling alone in this life's journey!

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  20. What a wonderful testimony of God's peace in the midst of chaos! Thank you for sharing your night with us. Have a wonderul and restful Sunday.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  21. All I can say after reading this ordeal you went through, is God bless you for what you do. Praying is vital to all of us and this is the perfect example.

    Blessings, Jeanne

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  22. Rosel,
    It is an honor and privilege to battle with you today. I will be warring on my knees this week for you and your precious family.
    As they dwell in the secret place of the Most High, they shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty, They will say of the Lord, He is our refuge and our fortress; Our God, in Him I will trust . - Psalm 91:1-2

    Blessings to you,
    Sarah Dawn

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  23. Rosel, It is awesome how He cares for you! It is awesome how He cares for those you nurse too! I am just sitting here thinking how amazing it is that He can meet every need everywhere by His outstretched and loving arms. They cover you! They cover you! They cover you! There is peace in that huh? :)
    Blessing you today with the covering of prayer,
    Christy

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  24. Anyone can remain calm on a still lake. It takes a child of God to be calm in a storm. You took a natural situation to witness for your Father...awesome job!

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  25. I have always found that God calms me when I call on him in overwhelming situations. His presence just sort of envelopes me when I need Him.

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  26. Rosel, Thank You so much for this post. It touched my heart so much and brought a tear to my eye. What a blessing you are. That last line you wrote is so true "Prayers surely open that door to PEACE…" I pray constantly. You can never pray to much. You have a true calling for sharing the Word Of God with others. May God always bless you and keep you safe my friend. Many Blessings, Audrey

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  27. I think you know brother Ike? I don't want to say anything that would be too private but I want to try to help him and his wife if I can. His wife has cancer for the second time and they have been devasted with medical bills. Yes we need to pray for them but they have spent all their retirement money and savings on medical bills. They also need thousands of dollars out of pocket for prescription drugs. I know that no one person can give them the help that they need but if many of us would just take the time and give the price of a cup of coffee it would certainly help ease their load. My thoughts are to keep spreading the word to as many people as I can and hopefully those who read this do the same. Again, not one person can make a difference and I know we are in bad times economically but if everyone would just give a dollar and pass on the link to others they know we all could make a big difference. I know Ike would not come on here and and ask for this but I will. 1 John 3:17 says "But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?" I pray that many will help champion this request and contact the people in your circle of life and ask them to do the same. Just one dollar from each of us can make a difference. I will leave the link below. Thanyou.

    http://bloodtippedears.blogspot.com/2008/07/prayer-and-help-for-my-mom-carol.html

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