I came to know Christ in 2008. I was reached out by my best friend who invited me to join a discipleship group. I am a Nurse. Allow me to share with you how I saw God’s purpose for me in my workplace- to serve Him and other people.

I came here in 2016, a nurse in an inpatient setting for 4 years. Then in November 2019, I desired to be in the outpatient department for a better working schedule.  An open door came and so I applied. During the prayer and fasting in January 2020, God encouraged me with his Word in Deuteronomy 1:21 “See, the LORD your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the LORD, the God of your ancestors told you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.” And Isaiah 43:18 -19. “Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past, see I am doing a new thing. Do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the wasteland.” God is true to his Word; praise Him I got the job. I was hired as an ambulatory oncology nurse in the same month. 

Now here came the challenge. This department where I transferred is known to be a difficult one. Nurses assigned there could not last long because of their claim of that the environment there is toxic, primarily because of the assigned doctor there. The staff would describe him as an “angry man.” Days and weeks passed. True enough, I also experienced all that I was told about this department. Despite this reality, I prayed that God would help me to intentionally build relationships with my new colleagues of different nationalities and asked the Holy Spirit to mightily move in the hearts of everyone in my unit. I tried my best to work by how I felt the Lord was leading me to do things. However, one time, the doctor openly told me that he did not like working with me and he had already requested for my replacement.

I was so hurt. I wanted to resign and go back to the Philippines. I told everything to my discipleship (CG) leader. She corrected me with love, pointing out that there may also be some issues with my heart and attitude. These may be the reasons why I was always tired, and my joy at work was no more. I had succumbed to a victim mentality, as they say.

In my quiet time, God reminded me that I am in my workplace for a purpose: to serve Him first and foremost. He encouraged me to submit to The Master first – to Love like Jesus. His Word in Colossians 3:23 came to mind, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” When I finally realized that I was working for man, not for the Lord, I asked God for His forgiveness and His help to free me from all my bitterness and unforgiveness toward my boss. He opened my heart and mind. I began to see my doctor through the lens of God. Behind what seemed to be his unpleasant behaviors, I saw an excellent doctor who cared about his patients and values his work well. I took his words to me as a challenge to improve myself personally and professionally, thinking that he was really empowering me. In the process, I began to appreciate and enjoy working with him. I asked God to tame his tongue and continued to pray for him and his family. At the start of every shift, I would pray to God for my workplace and workmates. 

Now, it’s been more than a year that I’m in my new post. I praise God for I just celebrated my 5th year in Abu Dhabi with the same hospital. I thank Him for he helped me build relationships with my colleagues and I saw how God has changed my doctor’s heart. Everyone around us, even the patients, have seen how God is transforming him. He is not an angry man anymore; he now smiles and even cracks jokes. He is happier and more genuine and more compassionate towards others. He can now control his anger. My boss also told me that he appreciates that I understand him. He trusts me, and he’s become like a father figure to me. God truly has the power to transform the heart of a person no matter how hard it may seem; only God can do that.

Sometimes it’s easy to give up on people especially the difficult ones but God has a purpose. He has placed us where we are right now for such a time as this. I am reminded that we should not be weary in doing good and to pray without ceasing because the prayer of a righteous person – one who has been made so by the blood of Jesus – is powerful and effective. And indeed, with God, nothing is impossible.