I have a cold.
That may not be too big a deal to most people; after all, nearly everyone gets a cold occasionally. And it’s not that it’s a particularly bad cold. The problem is that it has hit me primarily in my vocal chords, so that I can hardly talk and I can’t sing a note. And that’s bad because today is Sunday, and I am a preacher and a worship leader.
So what can I do?
Thankfully, God has given me people on the worship team who can lead the congregation in worship as well as I can. Even though I can’t sing, I can still play my guitar, and I can “sing and make music” in my heart (Psalm 57:7 NIV). And, thankfully, even though my voice is very low, very soft, and very gravelly, my sound technician can pump up the volume on my microphone, and even adjust the EQ so that every single person in the sanctuary can hear what the Lord wants me to say to them. (The wonders of modern technology!)
All of this to say that this broken world that we live in may throw all kinds of things in our paths to try and keep us from being effective at what God has called us to do, but if we don’t lose heart, He can make a way. The devil has never yet been able to stymie God’s plan, and our God is no weaker now than He has been in the past, but is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His strong arm is still there for those who trust in Him, and who are doing His will.
I praise His name (softly, and a little gravelly)!