When Worship Fails

Recently, I had an experience that I’m sure many of you can relate to. After several hours of rehearsal and preparation, it was time for service. We had lined up a great team, set list, special creative elements, and everything! I had a tremendous amount of expectation for what was going to happen. God was up to something, and I couldn’t wait to see it.

However, as expectation grew, so did the resistance I felt spiritually. I could literally feel the distractions, anxieties, and pressures building as the service drew closer. I knew this was going to be a fight. I met with our team beforehand, and we prayed together specifically against the attacks.

I know what you’re expecting – we went out and it was the most incredible experience we’d ever had. God had heard us!! Except that’s not what happened.

Not even close.

Instead, we struggled through our entire set. There was a constant barrage of attacks at us including malfunctioning equipment (which wiped out one of the best elements), lyric stumbles, arrangement hiccups and other inexplicable problems. It wasn’t all bad by any stretch. Our congregation was probably unaware of the majority of the challenges, but as the leader I knew.

I walked off stage frustrated and disappointed, feeling like I had let everyone down. Most importantly, I felt like God had ignored our plea. Afterwards, people raved about the service, but something inside me still felt like I had missed the mark.

If you’ve been leading for any amount of time, you probably know exactly how I was feeling. It feels like the very life has been sucked out of you. As I reflected over the next few days I realized something. God used this experience to do three things:

1. Refocus me.
2. Renew my trust in Him.
3. Remind me of my desperate need for Him.

I am grateful for this experience because it reminded me that I am lost without God. My greatest efforts are worthless without Him. Humans fail. Technology fails. God NEVER fails. My frustration soon turned to repentance and brokenness. I genuinely thought that I was fully trusting in Him, but my response revealed what was lurking in my heart. God is not dependent on video transitions or perfect arrangements. Feedback doesn’t arrest the Spirit. His power and ability transcends our human limitations.

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Brian serves as worship leader at Church of the Redeemer — a growing, multi-campus congregation based in Gaithersburg, Maryland, under the leadership of Pastor Dale O’Shields. His passion is seeing God advance His kingdom through the work and support of the local church.

More from Brian Taylor or visit Brian at www.leadingskillfully.com/