God in a music stand

It was one of those times when you feel like you're the hero of an action movie. You know, when he's being held captive and the world is only seconds away from being destroyed. Everything seems to be going bad; the crisis has come. This time though was without the drama of a daring escape, a massive gun battle, followed by the inevitable destruction of the evil hideout.

A group of us were setting up sound equipment for a late evening time of worship in my university's cafeteria only we didn't get near the time we wanted because we had to wait until supper was over. Time progressed very rapidly to about 30 minutes before start time and the band still hadn't gotten a chance to run through even one song. Each of us was running around frantically trying to complete the setup. I couldn't get the monitors to work, there mix was sounding horrible, the lead singer couldn't find any music stands, the drummer couldn't find drum sticks, and the program we were to immediately follow was ending. Stress was very near boiling. The band finally managed to get a couple songs partially played right as people were starting to arrive, but roughness was apparent.

Right before everything started, I stepped around the corner and leaned my head against the wall to pray. I didn't know what to say, I just had this feeling of intensity that I hoped would project to heaven. The lead singer, Eduardo, whom I greatly admire as a prayer warrior and passionate worshipper, had followed me around the corner and placed his hand on me. So the two of us stood there silently in the corner taking a moment with God. We stepped out of prayer feeling slightly better.

The issues still remained. Eduardo commented to me that he was feeling more stressed out than usual before playing and singing and that he really wished he had a couple music stands to feel more comfortable with the lyrics. I commented back somewhat in jest that we should pray, and that maybe there were music stands around the corner. You know how we get with God sometimes, especially when stressed. So Eduardo and I look at each other and walk around the corner to face an open closet with two music stands. My eyes barely stayed in my head. If that wasn't even enough, we walked back into the cafeteria to see the drummer proudly holding a set of drum sticks that someone had brought just minutes before.

Part way through the set list, the band played an awesome arrangement of the old hymn "The Solid Rock"

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus' Name.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

I was completely drawn in to the words as I thought about the whole evening. All the songs were played that night, all the equipment worked correctly and the mix didn't sound that bad. Though it began as the most stressful nights of music I had ever had, it ended as a incredible reminder that God is our Rock and that we only need to trust in Him.

Back to the movie. Somehow, when all is grim, the hero does something extraordinary and saves the day. This is who God is. Though the journey may be tough and the outcome totally unexpected, God has a way of taking those things and molding them into something beautiful.

"The God of all grace who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong firm and steadfast." I Peter 5:10