Growing up I was a very shy, backward child who hated being in front of people. I was blessed with the gift of music but I never felt like I was good enough. Singing came easy to me but I would freeze up when I was in front of people. Playing the piano didn’t come as easily but I practiced and worked hard and became good at playing when I was alone. When I had to play a solo in front of people at church, I would make mistakes because I was so nervous. I hated playing the piano in front of people. The church people would tell me I wasn’t good enough and not to waste my time with music anymore. I never could measure up to their standards. They didn’t realize I was actually good when I was alone. I felt so inferior.
As a teenager, I was sold out to God and would seek Him with all my heart. I knew that He loved me and accepted me as I was. I felt the calling of God on my life and knew that I would be in some type of music ministry. The negative comments never stopped which made me wonder if I had really heard from God. As I grew, I new I had to get over my shyness, but the people in the church throwing their insults made it quite difficult. One day, I had had enough and I did the unthinkable…….I told God I didn’t want this gift anymore because I couldn’t stand being hurt by the church any longer. I gave up my piano playing and my singing and didn’t touch music for 10 years.
Fast-forward many years later and I marry a pastor. Now, as most of you know, many pastor’s wives are expected to play the piano and sing. As I was contemplating the dilemma I now found myself in, God decided to put me in a place of extreme discomfort. During a service, the piano player got really sick and had to leave. Suddenly, it felt like a bombardment of eyes fell on me as if I would know what to do. I had no choice but to get behind the baby grande piano and play. As I trepidly laid my hands on the keys, I looked up to the sheet music and noticed a huge problem…..there weren’t any notes! They only had chords which I had no idea how to play. With nausea in my stomach and prayers going up to God to change the situation, I began to play without mistakes. God didn’t put me in that uncomfortable position to fail. I was so excited as the music flowed out of me and I was playing for God. What I once thought was dead and barren was brought back to life. God resurrected what I thought was gone. It didn’t matter what people said or what they thought because God was with me and helping me. God had a plan for my life and no negative, mean word was going to change it. You see, I was trying to get approval from man instead of God. I almost allowed man to destroy and steal my God-given purpose in life. When man saw a shy, backward girl who wasn’t good enough for anything, God saw a daughter that He would anoint to lead His people into worship.
There are many examples given in the Bible about how man and God saw people:
When David was anointed to become King of Israel man saw a shepherd boy, but God looked down and saw a king.
When man looked at Abraham and Sarah he saw bareness, but God saw a nation.
Gideon saw himself as a fearful and weak person, but God saw a man of valor and a warrior.
Moses saw himself as a stutterer, not fluent in speech, but God saw a man who would help deliver the Jews from captivity.
Peter thought he had failed Jesus by denying Him three times, but God saw a man who would be bold and fearless.
Paul was seen as a murderer of the Christians, but God looked down and saw a missionary who would lead many to Christ.
There are many more examples given in the Bible, but these are some of my favorites.
If these great men and women of the Bible would have listened to the opinions of man over God’s opinion, their stories would have ended quite differently. They never would have seen God’s promise and purpose fulfilled in their lives. If I would have never stepped behind that piano and listened to God’s still, small voice, I never would have seen God use me in ways He has. In the middle of my rejection and dying dream, God was saying: “I see you, and I love you. Rise up, O daughter.”
Don’t allow yourself to get to the point of giving up on your God-given purpose because of peoples negative remarks. Stop allowing the lies of others to penetrate your heart destroying your dreams. You are absolutely loved and called by God. He has anointed and appointed you for such a time as this.
24 God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.
Begin asking God to hep you see yourself the way He sees you. Ask Him to rekindle your God-given passion once again. Doing this will help you find joy in today.
Finding Joy In Today 
AMEN and AMEN!!
If God be for us , who can be against us! Great is His faithfulness.
Also reminds me of the power of our words. We can speak life or death with our words. We can build up or tear down with our words.
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Yes!! Our words can literally destroy or build up ourselves and others.
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