Doesn’t this title make you leap for joy? You may have spilled your coffee in excitement.
When it comes to being a better worship leader, we’d sign up for just about anything other than trials.
I’ll take a CD, book, t-shirt, or conference any day, but when it comes to painful life experience, I’d rather pass.
But the truth is, trials will make you a better worship leader. Actually, I believe it’s hard to be a good worship leader without them.
When I was in college, life was mine for the taking. I was dreaming, receiving compliments, and getting opportunities to lead on campus. I was doing God’s will and loving it.
Life was also pretty simple. The toughest decisions I had to make were whether to go to class or skip, go to Applebee’s or the cafeteria, hang out with friends or take a nap. Life was good. The future was bright. But then something happened that removed me from the spotlight.
WORSHIP IN OBSCURITY PREPARES YOU FOR WORSHIP CORPORATELY
I got sick. I’m talking really sick. So sick that I had to leave school, stop doing ministry, and try to figure out what wrong with me. A year and a half later, after countless doctors and tests, I had some answers. A year and a half.
During that year and half, I couldn’t lead worship. I couldn’t walk up stairs, for that matter. I had no muscle strength, was swollen, and quite pitiful – stuck in a current reality I NEVER would have chosen for myself.
Maybe you’re there now – in a season of obscurity where you feel unrecognized and forgotten. This will prepare you for corporate ministry. I’m convinced the best worship leaders have gone through trials and they’re better for it. Here’s how:
1. Your motivations are tested in secret – when you face a trial, you’re love for Jesus is tested. It’s easy for you to sing “Blessed Be Your Name” or exhort the congregation to do it, but are you living it? The true motivation of your heart is tested when you’re alone and worship God in spite of your pain.
2. You will lead out of a better story – everything that happens to you is another chapter in your story. You’re not responsible for what happens but you are responsible for your response. I’m convinced the best worship leaders lead out of a “today” faith in Jesus. They’re not just song leaders but truth tellers who live what they sing.
3. You will know God better – Or, you won’t. When you’re tested you have a choice to either run from God in anger or to God in worship. I did both. I started out angry but eventually pressed deeper into Jesus than I ever have. The intimacy with God that results is amazing, especially if you’re so sick you can’t do anything else 🙂
4. You will sympathize with your congregation more – The truth is, you’re congregation is going through intense pain. Many of them don’t know what to do – they mask what’s truly inside. They come on Sunday looking for hope. When the people know they are following someone who has worshiped their way through a trial, they will trust you more and look to you for leadership.
5. You will be marked by humility – I’m talking humility in the deep places of your heart, not just talking it. You will know that the result of anything good in your life is God. The source of every breath you breathe is God. You will live under the sobering truth that sometimes God gives and sometimes God takes away but no matter what He is worthy of praise.
Maybe your life has been shaken and you’re not able to do what you once did. Or maybe a life situation is simply nagging at you and you wish you could erase it. Don’t waste it. Allow it to form you into a true worshiper of the living God. And go, lead others to do the same.
Question: what trials are you currently facing? How are they making you more of a worshiper? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
I completely agree. Though, I would say this is true for everyone, not just worship leaders. It’s so easy to say God’s in control when everything is going right, but when He takes those things most important to you, you have to trust Him. And no matter what, He always knows what’s best.
Sorry, Josh, your comment was stuck in my spam folder 🙂 Amen!
As I grow older I think I realize more fully that most everyone we know is facing challenges in their life – whether we “see” their challenges or not. It’s a huge step of spiritual maturity to trust God in our circumstances and not rely on our self. I do believe that pain and suffering can purify and deepen our worship.
Someone at our church developed WORSHIP as an acronym which, for some reason, has stuck with me: WithOut Restraint, Surround Him In Praise
I agree with your points – thanks for sharing.
Jason, I love that acronym. Such a great reminder. Thanks for that.
I really appreciate this post, Jason….the acronym is wonderful also.
Exellent DAvid,,,,I can certainly relate to your story…..truthfully,,,you need to think about writing this as a book,,,it would be a huge seller…..you write very well,,,multi-facted young man and I cheer you onward…..big hugs leah
Thanks Leah! You personify the principles in this post. You’re an inspiration!
Beautiful post David. If I can offer one thought, it’s that there will be different trials in different seasons. There will be more than one major test. And, if God gives us a test and we don’t pass it, we get to take a re-test!
I don’t know if the “best” leaders lead with a limp, or that they are wounded healers. I just know we’re called to be faithful in the little things – in obscurity or not. The setbacks, the times of rejection, really are a test of our heart motivation. Whether we we become better worship leaders, or not, I hope our desire is to hear, “well done good and faithful servant.”
Most definitely, Rob. I’ve just noticed in talking to other “wounded” leaders that some of the most effective ministry comes through their pain. I suppose it’s the scriptural principle that we comfort other with the comfort we’ve received from God. You become more relatable. Thanks for your insight. Always profound.
Sure, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. 🙂
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This is a great post. Thanks for sharing this David. My Mom passed when I was 15. Soon after that I began leading worship in my youth group and it has shaped so much of how I write worship songs, relate to people that I’m leading, and approach the stage every Sunday. I’m often reminded that there are many people out there in those chairs facing trials right at this very moment. I pray they get a glimpse of the hope we have in Christ as we sing songs about his love and faithfulness.
Really inspiring to hear your story, bro. I can’t imagine the pain you’ve walked through. So amazing to see you leading worship and pouring into others like you do. Keep it up man.
Really great post, David. I think we can all relate to struggles we’ve walked through and how they’ve shaped us.
I remember back in 2009 after the economy tanked when my wife and I were both jobless and had no place to live… Talk about a journey. Like you I was angry. After being in ministry for 3 years, I had nothing to show for it. I felt abandoned and alone. But also like you, we pressed into God and developed an intimacy with him that we had never experienced before. He carried us through that time and I know God used that experience to, like you so eloquently put it, change me from a song singer to a “truth teller.”
It’s good to revisit past trials. It keeps us from forgetting where God brought us from and reminds us of his faithfulness during future trials. Thanks for the great post.
Ryan, I remember the conversations we had around this time and I remember praying for you a lot. Awesome to see where God has brought you. Miss you, friend.
Well written post David. Comes from a place of maturity not often seen until later in life. It is possible for some leaders to stuff their pain and never let their congregation see it. Thanks for encouraging us to not run from it OR them. A mentor of mine once said that the best worship leaders are those who are 2 months behind on their rent!
Thanks for the encouragement Phil. I’ve never tried the “late rent” technique, but I’m not sure I want to 🙂
Ha! 🙂 not sure if I want to be led by a dude 2 months behind on his rent …
I don’t have an answer to this question, but I want to simply say what an incredible post this is. You have summed up your story in such a way that is captivating. There is something in this post for every one that is a part of the Body of Christ. Thank you for sharing this. You are one of my heros.
David Rosenblum
Thanks David. Means a lot bro. You’re awesome.
You could use the same post for preaching as well. Actually, you could use the same post for any area of ministry. That is why it is disheartening to see an entire generation of ministers who shun with all power the message of suffering. Jesus said he would give us lands, houses, and blessings WITH persecutions.
Without trials it’s impossible to keep our heads on straight. I think #5 is the most important thing you mentioned. Every time a trial has cut my legs out from under me and I finally turn it over to God…. the humility that comes and the pure feeling of that humility is so refreshing.
Great post!
Great insight, Ryan. I agree, it can apply to all forms of ministry. Thanks for the comment!
Am glad i read this article. I have developed a very strong love for God during my trial moments. I understood the meaning of worship in my trial moments. It was when i realised God is greater than my challenges and so i let it go and asked God to take over by worshiping Him. He will arise in His glory as you worship Him and i assure you, your enemies will scatter. God bless you