I have, for as long as I can remember, wished I could sing. Now I’m no Beyonce or Whitney Houston, but I liked to think I could. Some people had even told me I could sing, but for some reason I never felt confident that I actually sounded good. Well, that’s not true…I thought I could sing; I just didn’t think others (enough) thought the same.
What I realized is that I can hold a note. I can match my sound quite lovely when singing along with other altos. So I sing…a lot!! I sing in the car. I sing at church. I sing in the store. I just enjoy singing!!
I had been attending this small church near my home for over a year now. I go, I sing, and I participate in worship, but for some reason I hadn’t joined. Since my mom, sister, and I have lived in the same city we joined and attended the same church. For various reasons, we each left that church. Maybe I was reluctant to join a church absent of my family, but I still really like the church, so I continue to “visit.”
One day, I came in late, so I had to sit near the from (not in my “assigned” seat. (Y’all know we have assigned seats in church right?! LOL.) Anyway, I sat next to an older lady, and I sang along with the hymns as usual. After some time, she leaned over and asked me why I wasn’t in the choir. I bashfully didn’t know. Before service ended, she said to me again that I really needed to be in the choir. I politely nodded.
A Sunday or so later, another lady leaned over to me with the same question. I told her I actually wasn’t even a member of the church. That didn’t change her urging.
I honestly hadn’t really thought too much more about it. The next Sunday or so, as I prepared to exit the sanctuary and greet the pastor, he said to me, “I need to talk to you for just a few minutes. Sit right there and wait for me.” I did, wondering what in the world does he had to say to me.
As the sanctuary cleared, he came over and said, “My mother-in-law told me that you could really sing.” “I can hold a note,” I replied with a smile. He goes on to say that the new music director is working to form a young adult choir, if I would like to join, and do I want to meet him. I obliged. The music director was called over. We spoke very briefly…I’ll be going to choir rehearsal Thursday!!
It’s funny how I’ve said to myself for as long as I can remember, “I wish I could sing,” yet the Lord heard my voice and was pleased. It feels kind of special to hear from God and respond in accordance. I would have never joined on my own. I don’t know anyone. It’s gonna be awkward. I would have let these thoughts and feelings keep me from being of service to the Lord in the choir.
I’m glad that God knows what I had always wished, and He created an opportunity for me serve Him doing something I enjoy doing. There is also a message here about the spirit of telling yourself no.
Let us all incline our ears to the Lord and speak life into our hopes, dreams, and desires.
