You can’t escape it.
You’ll never get so good that you evade it.
You might as well accept it, embrace it, and learn to harness it.
What am I talking about?
Sweaty palms. Shaky legs. Stuttering words. Being Nervous.
The Disease Of “I-Don’t-Want-To-Suck-ism”
If I were a completely honest worship leader, I’d have to say I’m always nervous. Whether I’m standing before large or small crowds, there’s this element of “I don’t want to suck” that plagues everything I do.
Almost every time I do something on stage, I want to quit before I start. I cave under the pressure of self doubt.
But after I lead, I never regret it. Even when I perceive the world hates me due to my awful performance, God does His work. He moves in mysterious ways.
Before God’s power comes human weakness.
Before breakthrough comes struggle.
Before the promise comes delay.
These are realities I’ve seen proven day after day.
Rather than seeing nerves as something to avoid, it may just mean you need to move forward. Let it be your teacher. Let it make you better.
How to Harness Nervousness To Your Advantage
When you feel nervous, try this:
- Pray – let it draw you to a deeper trust in God
- Be Excellent – nerves mean you care about what you’re doing.
- Realize – that it’s God’s responsibility to change hearts. Christ’s perfection should lead you to trust Him, not in your own abilities.
- Relax – tell yourself to relax. Everyone wants you to succeed.
- Worship – the best thing you can do is abandon yourself in worship. Don’t become too professional and forget this.
- Keep leading – don’t allow nerves or failure to keep you from leading. Keep going. Keep trying. Keep being who God called you to be.
You will never avoid being nervous entirely. But you can learn to harness it to make you better. Stay secure in the hand of God…and keep leading.
Question: What does being nervous teach you? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
For further reading: “Leading In Light Of Christ’s Perfection”
I believe being nervous does serve to keep us alert and focused. I also believe that we really grow when we walk into the face of fear and uncertainty. There is something life-changing about seeing a healthy fear and consciously choosing to walk into it. That’s how we grow! As the saying goes, courage is not the absence of fear – it’s proceeding in the face of fear. Great post, as usual!
Jason, your comments are always so insightful. You should blog or something like that 🙂
Every wednesday night my band and I lead worship for thr youth group, I am nervous. Although there are only about 160 people in the room, I am more nervous about being able to lead effectively…
That’s normal, Brandon. Submit to it and become better through it!
man…i’m always nervous too…even with house shows with friends and family…
I feel weak and sick…and I almost always throw up in the bathroom….(this is a really funny with my band mates and my wife)…but as soon as the first note is played…i feel awesome! lol…
Wow, that is some serious nervousness 🙂 Hopefully you don’t have to nearly throw up every time for the rest of your life!
I love this: “Realize…that it’s God’s responsibility to change hearts. Christ’s perfection should lead you to trust Him, not in your own abilities.”
I think my responsibility as a leader is primarily what happens leading up to the performance. If I’m in the Word all week, if I’m practicing hard, if I’m praying about song selection, if I’m asking God to fill me with grace and love for my team members, if I’m leading with humility…it’s much easier to let go right before the lights come up. I ask Him to use every note, good or bad to draw hearts to Him, then I let go and follow where the Spirit leads me.
Very well said. I like how you phrased that – “it’s easier to let go right before the lights come up”. I suppose our weeks should be spiritual preparation for that moment. That’s better than throwing up a quick, last minute “fire insurance” prayer!
I’ve been leading worship at my local church for about 10 yrs now. There was even a stretch of 2 yrs where I was the only worship leader at the church. It still amazes me how after so many years I still get those “butterflies” in my stomach. But as others have said, as soon as the first note is sung or played, all that nervousness is forgotten and left behind. It is a little less when I know our team and I have prepared well during the week, but it is still there.
I think the most important thing is (as you said) we need to REALIZE and understand that no matter how poorly we do or how great we do (leading worship), God is the one doing the transformation of hearts. It’s not us or our awesome songs or our techniques. It is the power of God!
I’ve actually found that sometimes it seems easier and a little less nerve-wracking to lead in other places besides your home church…not sure why…I suppose since the congregation is not used to listening to the visitor they respond a bit more. Or maybe it’s because when you’re at your home church, you feel a bit more pressure to make sure things are still fresh and dynamic even it’s the same song we have sung week after week (ummmm…Open The Eyes of My Heart).
I agree with you, Daniel. It’s easier to lead for people you don’t know 🙂
10 years is awesome, bro. Do you see yourself at this church for good?
Something very drastic would have to happen for me to leave my church. But of course, I don’t know what God has in store for me. We will see 🙂
I wonder sometimes if we get nervous because we care too much about man’s approval. It’s just a thought. I still get nervous.
I have a saying that I’ve unfortunately had to use more than once. It keeps me and the congregation grounded. When we have a technical issue or otherwise come to a screeching halt, I’ll calmly say, “If I were here to entertain you, I’d be really embarrassed right now.” It gets a laugh and we continue. I can pull it off because of my dry sense of humor and otherwise calm demeanor. [My wife calls me Eeyore (from Winnie the Pooh) sometimes.]
Really like your blog, David. I am going to link to it from mine.
Wow, thanks so much Toby! Thanks for reading and engaging in the comments. You’re awesome.
And I agree, man’s approval can be so controlling sometimes.
Great post!!! I get more of a combination of excitement and nervousness so I like to overload myself with caffeine and sugar and let the excitement take over!!! The downside is, by the time the sermon comes around, you gotta get a second dose, haha. Now when my parents or friends who go to other churches visit…..that’s another level… 😀
I’m currently reading Darlene Zschech’s book “Extravagant Worship” and this post reminded of a line I just read earlier today! She wrote, “Learn to seek God’s face without worrying about saving yours”. Good stuff!
Love that quote, Josh! I remember reading that book years ago. Thanks for reminding me about it! Any other good books you’re reading?
Really great quote, Josh. I also remember that book – it may be time to pick it up and read it again 🙂
been a worship leader for quite some time also, and yeah, minutes before the time for me to lead, i really got those “butterflies” in my stomach and feel like throwing up or gotta go to the comfort room (to be comforted i guess..hahaha!)..but it’s really true that when we start singing/leading, the nervousness vanished and is replaced with much excitement, joy and passion..especially if you see the congregation enjoying and worshipping God with all of their hearts..no word can express that kind of feeling..and it’s during these times that God would again and again, like whisper or tell me – this is where you belong..this is what and how i made you to be – to lead my people to passionately worship Me. just awesome! ^_^
“Before God’s power comes human weakness. Before breakthrough comes struggle. Before the promise comes delay.”
I love those lines. Poetic and 100% truth.
I’m reminded of a post you wrote a short while back about transforming from a song-singer to a truth-teller. Once you get out of the way and move past your performance to a place where God’s in the driver’s seat, it feels so great.
Amen, bro. We are declaring the wonders of God to people who might have not seen it yet. That’s pretty exciting.
Well, i have no idea why i always sweat really badly if i worship lead. I even have to take out my spectacle because i sweat too much. I just don’t know how to overcome it.
And one more thing, i have no idea beside than speaking in tongue during leading worship, what should i do then?
Heidi, can you frame your question again? I’m not sure what you mean about speaking in tongues when leading worship. Thanks!