In college, I loved to listen to live music. Being in Austin made this easy as it seemed there was a venue on every corner. Country music and two-stepping are in my blood. Removed from Texas soil, I forgot how live music makes me do things I had not planned.
As part of my attempt to reconnect with my inner child and relive my glory days, my husband and I went to see a newish band we recently discovered.
As the band walked on stage, my excitement lifted me out of my seat and I began to clap like a wild woman. I was thrilled to see the men who had been serenading me every evening for the previous six months through Bluetooth speakers in my living room. The lyrics and mournful notes had woven themselves into the fabric of my porch sitting memories and I was excited to see the real people behind our Spotify playlist.
It was almost like I was the winner of a round of “Name that Tune” because I was the only one (besides my husband) who knew that the band on stage was the one we had paid so much to see. Moved by the music, I could not help by cheer.
It was only when I realized that I was the only one standing that I began to feel foolish. You see, I was cheering wildly, excited beyond words, and every other person in the audience did not yet know what they were seeing. The absence of clapping, the bottoms in the seats, and the conversations happening over the opening guitar chords told me something was missing.
In that moment, I had the choice, conform to the crowd and sit down— or keep standing and cheering my little heart out.
I chose to stay standing.
I stayed standing because I wanted the band to know how much I appreciate their work. Isn’t that why we compliment, applaud, and cheer? It is some innate recognition of the hours of dedication that preceded the momentary appearance on stage.
As if being the sole cheerleader was not enough, I made an even bigger spectacle of myself by turning my back to the stage trying to get the audience to join me on my feet. If you could have see the looks of crazy in the eyes of everyone behind me, you would have laughed.
In the moment I turned around to face the band, the lead singer walked on stage. It took a split second for the crowd to understand that these men were the whole point of this concert. Once they joined me on their feet and began to hoot and holler I inwardly thought, “I told you so!”
I want to cheer just as wildly for you!
When we are gathering the courage to be fearless in the face of something new, it is easy to talk ourselves out of taking the first step. Doing something for the first time or starting over can feel like walking on stage while the whole world looks on unimpressed. There is a temptation to dismiss the inspiration for fear of looking foolish.
Giving in to doubt and discouragement will keep us in the wings. This is not what God desires for you.
If you are struggling with hesitation over a decision or questioning yourself about the one you just made, imagine me cheering for you from the audience.
I am yelling enthusiastically and will keep yelling until I am hoarse. I am clapping ’til my hands hurt. My arms are waiting to hug you around your sweet neck.
Because, sometimes venturing out to respond to Jesus’ promptings to love feels like taking a step into the unknown and we need to know that someone is on our side. When that voice of doubt creeps in, listen for the cheering.
What in your life makes you feel like you are stepping onstage, alone?
Know that you have a cheerleader. Now, get to work, we have a Kingdom to build.