I was struggling with fear about the future and questions about what God's purpose for my life was relating to singing when I read an amazing prayer by Dag Hammarskjold, a former secretary of the U.N.:
For all that has been, thanks. For all that shall be, YES.
That quote totally blew the lid off of my entire perspective of how and when and where I used my talents. To say YES to all that would come, no matter what it was, was the total opposite of how I had led my life up to that point. Previous to this, I would pick and choose opportunities that were given to me to sing based on how comfortable I felt with the crowd, the venue, and the specifications. Unfortunately, my choosing left me frustrated and limited. In the midst of this frustration, I made a conscious decision, a commitment to God, to say YES any time I was given an opportunity to minister through singing.
This, as you can imagine, did not lead to the most glamourous of opportunities. I've led worship before hundreds of prisoners - murderers, rapists, thieves... all redeemed and seeking God with the same (or more intense) passion that you'd find in your local church. I've sung in nursing homes, before people who looked less than coherent; I've led worship for elementary-aged kids in Kids Church for several years (actually, this was my favorite!). Let's not forget about the little pentecostal churches where the first measure of the song led Sister So-And-So to start dancing and start shouting in tongues. On the opposite spectrum, I've sang at a few very traditional churches where you could've heard crickets after each song... no response, not an eyelash batted (try singing a crazy gospel song about Jesus returning on a white horse in front of this type of crowd... more than one eyebrow was raised)! All of them not the most glamourous, not the most comfortable, and not the most desirable situations.
But me choosing to say YES did some really powerful things in me:
1. I believe that it made me a good steward over my talents. I believe God is looking for people who are willing and available. When he sees someone with a YES attitude, and that attitude is proven by action, I believe He knows that he can entrust us with other opportunities.
2. I believe that it humbled me. Every opportunity is your "big opportunity," because everyone needs to experience God's presence in a BIG way. You can be the vehicle that God uses to get through to people - pretty cool! Prisoners need to be led in worship just as much as the Sunday morning crowd. The Spirit of God can move and touch people in the most traditional AND the most radical of churches. Both children in Kid's Church and the elderly in nursing homes can be changed by the presence of God as we lift up earnest, pure worship to Him.
3. Most practically, practice makes perfect. Saying YES will open up opportunities to hone your skills as a singer and worship leader. You learn what works, what doesn't work.
I encourage you, if you're frustrated with where you're at, to start saying YES! Don't look at any opportunity as sub-par. Take every offer. Just because it doesn't fit your idea of how you thought God would use you doesn't mean that it's not a great opportunity. Be faithful with your gift. He'll open doors you can't imagine.
