When the Work Doesn’t Feel Worth It
As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a Registered Nurse. Shortly after moving to Florida, I found it incredibly difficult to find work. My background has been in home health for the past three years. It allowed me to focus on quality care and build meaningful relationships with families.
While I’m grateful for that experience, I was ready for a change. I wanted a different setting and a new challenge. If you’re not familiar with Florida beyond its tourist reputation, you may not realize how challenging the job market can be.
I spent about three months applying for healthcare positions outside of home health. Unfortunately, opportunities were limited.
Eventually, I reconsidered. I applied to a home health agency that aligned with my professional goals.
They assigned me a case that totaled only 15 hours a week. Now, remember—I had been job hunting for about three months. You can imagine how eager I was to jump into full-time work. Part-time hours were definitely not what I had in mind.
I was frustrated. I felt like I had waited patiently for God to provide. Yet things still weren’t unfolding as I had expected.
Even though I was weary, I accepted the case because I needed the work.
In home health, many nurses come and go. If a family has experienced poor care before, earning their trust can be challenging.
When I first started, I didn’t do much at all. My patient’s wife was so hands-on with the care, I found myself wondering, What’s the purpose of me being here? If I was there to provide respite, this certainly didn’t feel like the right approach.
That’s when I felt God shift my perspective.
He reminded me that this assignment wasn’t about the care I could provide. It was about what my presence meant to the family.
At first, I didn’t fully understand. But then I heard the wife explain what respite care meant to her during an interview. She shared that having someone else present wasn’t about her stepping away from her husband’s care. It was about the comfort of knowing someone capable was there if something went wrong.
Her husband had Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and could no longer do anything independently—not even speak. Caring for him was more than a responsibility; it was an intimate act of love and connection within their marriage.
That moment hit me deeply.
It reminded me of Matthew 23:12: “But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (NLT)
I was so focused on my own comfort and involvement that I failed to see the impact of my presence alone.
Another realization followed. In my previous assignments, I never really had to earn anyone’s trust. Families automatically trusted me to keep their loved one safe during my shift.
The verse above references Jesus confronting the religious leaders. They were consumed by pride, caring more about appearances than the condition of their hearts. God saw beyond their image and knew how far they were from Him.
In my own situation, God clearly needed to humble me.
As nurses, our title often places us on a pedestal. As I mentioned earlier, some people in this profession leave difficult situations for the next person to handle.
For me, it wasn’t that I believed I was the best. I genuinely enjoy serving others. But when that service didn’t look the way I expected, I began to question my purpose and usefulness.
God gently reminded me that just because an assignment looks different doesn’t mean it lacks purpose. Sometimes God uses us in ways we never anticipated. A different role does not make you any less valuable.
As representatives of the Kingdom, we are called to live differently from the world around us. Jesus modeled this perfectly, showing us what it truly means to serve others with humility and surrender (Philippians 2:5–11).
Sometimes God’s assignment is not about what you can do, but who He is shaping you to become. What feels insignificant today may be growing your faith and character.