Thoughts from a Musician's Heart

THE STILL SMALL VOICE by Stephen Morscheck

I believe our heavenly Father, the LORD of heaven and earth, shows His steadfast love towards us in countless ways. I love His way with the details of our lives. His provision, while seldom early, is never late, and most often in a manner that we could not foresee nor would choose for ourselves, but it is always good.

In June of 2022 I was invited to sing the title role in Mendelssohn’s Elijah. After saying yes, the questions began: “You are not any younger … the last time you performed this it was rough.” “What if so-and-so is in the audience?” A palpable weight settled on my shoulders. I began practicing, endeavoring to focus on the process. There was repeated confession to the Lord Jesus Christ of my fears which were rooted in pride. The demands of life occasionally interrupted the preparation but when I returned to it, the discernible weight was there. Then, in the week prior to the performance, the LORD stepped forward.

At the Sunday morning service the Call to Worship was from Psalm 16, and included verse nine: "Therefore my heart is glad, and my spirit rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.” I turned to my wife Julie and whispered with excitement, “I sing these specific words as Elijah!” This text, chosen for the Call to Worship without any knowledge of my specific situation, was a sweet, comforting provision from the LORD.

Later that week, unpacking in the hotel, I found a card from Julie with a prayer she had written, “… that my heart and mind would not be concerned with thoughts of what others would think of me.” Although a regular struggle for me through the years, I never discussed this particular fear related to this engagement with her. Once again the Lord Jesus reminded me that He knew the depths of my heart, and He had moved my wife’s heart to pray for me about this matter, encouraging me in the process. At the performance the LORD supplied all my needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:9).

There are glorious choral selections in Elijah including “Behold, God the Lord passed by” (1 Kings 19:11-12).

Behold, God the Lord passed by! … a mighty wind rent the mountains around, brake in pieces the rocks … the sea was upheaved, and the earth was shaken. But yet the Lord was not in the earthquake. … There came a fire. But yet the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there came a still small voice.

And in that still voice onward came the Lord.

It was the still small voice of the LORD that spoke to me. He did it when I did not expect it, in ways I could not have predicted, but it was perfect and right on time. He used His word and the prayers of others to bring strength and peace to this trembling heart.