The work of a nurse is one that indeed brings anxiety to them. After all, there are many different circumstances that they encounter. Whether in the emergency room, where stressful situations are a frequent occurrence or in the hospital wards and rooms, where anything can happen to a patient, anxieties can be frequently experienced by a nurse. Here, we are referring specifically to nurses who work in hospitals. However, some nurses work or serve in a military setting and have their own unique anxieties, given their environment. Also, nurses can be anxious concerning their own well-being. For example, during the 2020 pandemic, it was not uncommon for the nurses on the frontlines to have experienced anxiety, given the many uncertainties.
Heavenly Father, I thank You because no matter how uncertain tomorrow may be, which causes me to be anxious, You are the One who holds it. You hold an d lead me every step of the way, and Your mercies always follow me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Is It a Sin to Be Anxious?
Feeling anxiety in itself is not inherently a sin. Anxiety, in a sense, is a normal emotion, depending on the circumstance. For example, if a mother suddenly cannot find her child, surely she would feel anxiety. She may worry that something has happened to her child or someone abducted them. It would be abnormal if the mother didn’t feel anything or didn’t care. In the same way, nurses could encounter situations where feeling anxious is a given. It could be that a nurse is helping a group of surgeons in a critical operation; the nurse may be anxious for the patient. If a nurse works for an athletic team, an athlete gets injured, and immediate treatment at the hospital is needed for a broken bone, the nurse could be anxious because they have to get the athlete to the hospital as soon as possible. If a nurse serves in the military, surely it is not just medical anxieties they could have but also ones relating to combat or action.
But when does anxiety become a sin? It is a sin if we have become consumed by our anxieties. This will affect our faith in God. Anxiety becomes a sin if we are so consumed that we cannot focus on God and trust Him. It also becomes a sin when we try to deal with our anxieties by ourselves instead of being humble and relying on God. Anxiety becomes a sin when we are fearful of the future. In a nutshell, when anxiety causes us to lose trust in God and starts to affect the things we do, it becomes a sin.
That is why it is essential to always go back to what the Bible says about responding whenever we are anxious. Our primary response should be to trust God (Psalm 56:3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.). In (Psalm 55:22 Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.), it is written that we are to cast our burden on God.( 1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.) also tells us to humble ourselves, which means not to take the burden upon ourselves but instead to cast our anxieties to God because He cares for us.
A Nurse’s Prayer for Anxiety
A Nurse’s Prayer for Anxiety
A Nurse’s Prayer for Anxiety
We have a God who cares for us and wants us to run to Him whenever we are anxious. One way we display our trust in God is by coming to Him in prayer and casting to Him our anxieties.
How Can a Nurse Pray in Times of Anxiety?
Philippians 4:6-7 gives us a good blueprint for praying in times of anxiety. In the verse, it is written that we are not to be anxious but instead to present to God our prayer requests, and His peace that transcends all understanding shall guard our hearts and minds. In other words, what are your anxieties? Are you worried about your safety and being infected by a spreading contagious disease? Are you worried for the well-being of the patient? Are you going into battle as an army nurse? Whatever those anxieties are, present them to God in prayer, and His peace shall guard your heart and mind.
Father in heaven, I am anxious both for my well-being as a nurse and the patients I care for in the hospital. I am afraid of accidents that may happen, which may cause me to be infected by a disease. I am also worried about the recovery of the patients I care for. Protect me from any harm and danger. I also pray for recovery and healing for my patients. Remind me that You are sovereign over everything. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
No matter your anxieties regarding the future, know that you can trust God, for He is faithful. His love is steadfast, and His faithfulness extends to the clouds (Psalm 36:5 Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,your faithfulness to the skies.). You always have Christ as your shepherd, who is with you, no matter what valley you are walking through. Rest assured that surely God’s goodness and mercy will always follow you (Psalm 23).
A Nurse’s Prayer for Anxiety