I’m not sure if many of you know it, but I went to college to become an opera singer.
This came from me realizing that when people asked what I wanted to do as an adult, the only thing I’d ever really wanted to do was make music. I never auditioned for the music department, but just signed up. I realized later that my being accepted without an audition was a fluke. It wasn’t supposed to happen, in fact, after me signing up they said they needed to speak with admissions to make sure that doesn’t happen anymore.
When reflecting on this…I realized that God was placing me where He wanted me to be, and He knew I wasn’t qualified…so He made a way.
And I had no idea.
We never truly know everything that God is doing behind the scenes of our lives, to make our way. We can’t ever truly take credit for anything.
He put me there…but why?
I’m not currently singing in operas. So, why on earth would God place me there?
One thing is certain, I developed confidence in this one small area of my life through this time. I discovered that I was actually a gifted singer. I didn’t know that before. I didn’t know that with proper training and lots of hard work, I’d discover that music is like life to me. It’s like taking a deep breath and feeling satisfied. I love real music. I also discovered that I love the challenge of singing classically. I loved that it was a skill. It was sometimes unpredictable. It required a lot of thought and devotion. I loved the challenge.
This was the first time in my life that I had embraced a challenge.
Then I began to notice anointing on my voice. At the time I didn’t know exactly what that meant, but I could absolutely feel when the anointing was flowing over my voice, and I could see people responding to it. It felt like a source of power and strength, though I still didn’t know why I had that.
After I graduated and eventually moved home, I really dove into leading worship. Suddenly, I found meaning in the anointing. It will never stop being interesting to me that this anointing was on my voice whether I was singing praise or opera. It was simply on me. No matter what. This is why it’s so easy for me to see that many professional singers carry a similar anointing but have been using it for leading people into an opposite direction of the cross. But I digress.
Do you have a story like this in your life? A moment when you saw that God put you somewhere and now it seems as if your life has nothing to do with that anymore. But clearly, He had done it. Clearly the only way you were there was because He opened the door. Only later to discover that it truly was part of His plan for developing your life. It just happened in ways that seemed disconnected or mysterious.
There was a reason He placed me there. The time and money spent on my degree wasn’t a waste. It was part of the plan. It led me to worship. Which by the way was mocked as a lesser way to display vocal talent by many of those I’d been involved with in college. As if those who choose worship singing are just those who couldn’t make it any other way. For me though, opera led me to worship.
The songs we sang in operas were mostly full of despair. A lot of gross sexuality. A lot of melodramatic depression. I did notice that I felt empty in those songs. I kept wondering where I’d find fulfillment. Then I discovered worship and suddenly everything made sense. I wasn’t anointed to sing for myself. I was anointed to sing praises to God. He chose me for His pleasure.
Have you discovered what He has anointed you to do for Him? What is it that you do that you know brings pleasure to God? When you discover it, do it. Don’t wait for a stage or for recognition. Do it at home, just for Him. Just for the pleasure of His company. Give the Giver of the gift the delight of you using it solely for His pleasure.
That’s where meaning is found. In the pleasure of His company.
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10
365 Days in the Presence 