Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them accordingly…” (Ephesians 12:6 AMPC)

 Many years ago, the Lord called our family to give Him a year of full-time service in a family music ministry. But who would play the piano for us? My sister, Ruth, was an excellent pianist, as was our good friend, Bob. The only problem was that God hadn’t called either of them to leave their jobs to join us.

I had been playing the piano for a long time but didn’t think I was skillful enough to play for a full-time music ministry. Pride said, “People will wonder why someone as lacking in talent as you is playing the piano for concerts.” When I realized God wasn’t going to provide anyone else to play, I worked hard to improve. Even so, for a long time I told every audience, “We’re not doing this because we think we’re the most talented people in the world─we’re doing it because God asked us to do it.”

Just when I was gaining some confidence, we stayed in the home of a man who sang with a quartet. As he talked on and on about how many invitations they received to sing and how talented they were, he added, “We memorize everything. If a person can’t play and sing without written music, they shouldn’t be doing concerts.” I retreated to our bedroom. Was he right? Since I didn’t have the ability to play without music, should we stop doing concerts?

I pulled out The Upper Room devotional guide, my Bible, and my journal. The Scripture passage for that day included Romans 12:6 (see above). I began to cry. Just because God hadn’t given me the grace to play the piano without music, didn’t mean I should refuse to use my gift. He didn’t expect me to do something He hadn’t graced me to do. Obedience, not perfection, was what He required.

Father, forgive us when we set a standard for ourselves or others that differs from the standard you’ve set for us. All you ask is that we use our gifts according to the grace you’ve given us. Amen.

Photo 1 Our family in 1982, NewSong Ministries. Photo 2 My sister, “Ruthie,” and me in front of my parents’ piano in 1967. Photo 3 Me at the piano at a wedding where we sang in 1994.