Maintain Your Focus - Joe Pace
Worship leaders, much like everyone else involved in ministry, are not immune to issues and problems. There are those days that are filled with joy and excitement as you see God clearly manifest His presence in a service through the worship, and then there are those days that you feel so woefully inadequate you wonder if you belong on the platform at all. There are those days when the sound on the platform seems perfect, and those days when you want to throw the mic at your sound person! There are those days when the congregation seems to be in “lock-step” with you, and then there are those days when you want to throw the mic at some of them as well! Often there are days of leading worship through pain, hurt, fatigue and frustration. You are not alone. Been there… Done that! None of us are immune.
To every worship leader reading this article, I would say to you to be encouraged and by all means… Maintain Your Focus. Remember why you were called by God to do what you are doing, and that for every call there is provision to accomplish the mission. Know that there are road blocks, both internal and external, that if not effectively managed and overcome, can cause us to veer off the path of divine purpose and provision, into a ditch of frustration and confusion where we are no longer really being as effective as we could or should be in our ministry. Below I’ve outlined some of the common impediments to maintaining focus, and just a little encouragement as to how to overcome them:
1) I’m Just Not Good Enough:
Worship leaders, in fact all leaders deal from time to time with insecurities and doubts about their abilities. We must remember that God chooses the weak, base and foolish things to bring glory to Himself (I Cor. 1:26-28). The Apostle Paul in fact, gloried in his weakness because it forced him to depend on God’s strength and not his own (2 Cor. 12:9-10). Further, avoid the mistake of demanding more of yourself than God is asking. Make sure you are not operating out of people’s expectations of you, rather than God’s expectations.
2) What If I Fail?:
Stop taking yourself so seriously! We all make mistakes… expect mistakes to happen. Come on, how many of you have been leading worship and forgot the words to the song you were singing! I know some of you are saying “amen” right now! Trust the Holy Spirit’s guidance as you attempt to do great things for God. When you do make mistakes, be quick to learn from them and try to avoid repeating them in the future. Failure is not final!!
3) Nobody Knows The Trouble I’ve Seen:
Rare is the worship leader that doesn’t get discouraged and disappointed at times. Things are not always going to turn out the way we want them to. If you, however, can keep your eyes on Christ instead of yourself, your circumstance, or other people, you will be able to effectively navigate the road of discouragement.
4) Dry Bones:
Often, dryness or lack of power in a worship leader’s life can be attributed to the absence of: a) Prayer, b) Time in God’s Word, c) Holy Lifestyle, d) Relationship. Don’t be so concerned about others that you fail to do the things necessary for your personal growth. Every worship leader must do whatever they can to stay refreshed, renewed, and revived (Jer. 31:25). It is for your benefit as well as for those you are leading. Remember, no water comes from a dry well!
5) Now What Time Was I Supposed To Be There?:
All leadership is hindered by inefficient use of time. Often, as a worship leader, major time commitments and priority shifts are necessary. You must regularly define ministry and life priorities and stick faithfully to them in order to eliminate time management problems. Try going over your calendar regularly with someone else in an effort to bring some accountability to your schedule.
6) Can’t We All Just Get Along?:
Personality clashes, jealousy over roles or abilities, competition, superstars on the platform, etc.. Man, talk about losing focus! You need to always try to see others better than yourself (Phil. 2:3-5). Desire to see them succeed in whatever it is they are doing. Pray for them, and then you yourself repent of any unloving attitudes or behavior. Remember, no one can do what you do like you do. God has given you a specific anointing that is unique to you. Be secure in that, and focus on what God has called you to do.
7) Headed For A Breakdown:
Problems can quickly manifest from us overextending ourselves and taking on more than we can adequately handle. Learn, as a worship leader to delegate responsibilities to others, and to let other people “do what they do” while you focus on your call. You may have to look at cutting back on some other things. Also, make sure that there are regular periods of rest and recreation so that you can stay rejuvenated and avoid burnout.
8) Don’t Fight The Power:
Issues are inevitable when worship leaders act independently of God. There is a blessing that comes with submission to authority. If you insist on having your own way, know that there will always be conflict! I Peter 5:5-6 speaks of submitting to one another, being clothed with humility and how God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. Every worship leader must be submitted to the leadership of the church and ultimately to the will of God.
Keep your focus squarely on God and what He has called you to do. If this is where you are called, then God has equipped you with all the tools you need to accomplish His will.
Seek His guidance and provision and… Maintain Your Focus.
