Kimberly Grainger penned our devotional thoughts this week. Don’t know her? Then be sure to stop by the contributor’s page and check her out.

My mom teaches piano. 

Well, she did, for 50 years, so you’d better believe I took lessons. I’d played actively, ages 5-20, then largely shelved it, excepting occasional weddings and church events, for the next 30ish years.

So, last Christmas, when our worship pastor asked me to accompany him and his wife for a special holiday duet, I really begged God for an out.

He didn’t give it.

I knew the short prep window, challenging arrangement (Playing NINE notes at once, four of which are accidentals?! Yikes!), and spendy baby grand rental equaled a task FAR beyond me.

Yet God prompted me to say “yes.”

Cue weeks of rehearsal, between shopping, decorating, packing for a trip, and baking enough to give all within a 100-mile radius a sugar-high.

Stage was clear. 

Spotlight was on Alejo and Tara. 

Sheet music was printed. 

Service one was down – two to go.

We started well until the music stand on the baby grand fell flat with an echoing crash, making some wonder if there’d be drums, after all, on this vocals-and-piano special.

My music was now out of my line of sight. Uh, oh!!

I immediately started praying, in a loop, “Jesus, help!!!” (Simple. Direct. Desperate.) 

One pastor even started on-stage to help.

Feeling His Presence, though, I sat up tall, hovering over the piano bench and giving Alejo a barely-perceptible nod. “We’ve got this, brother. Just keep singing.” He read my determined posture, and we continued.

It was miraculously the best duet of any practice or service.

When we exited into the green room afterwards, we laughed and rejoiced,  praising Jesus.

I’m not a professional pianist. 

I’d not memorized the 10-page arrangement. 

I later felt after-effects from “the hover.”

But God had answered my prep-time prayer: “Lord, hide me, so You’ll be glorified.”

Would I have chosen the impromptu crash? Nope. I loooove order and predictability, but God had other plans, ones that’d showcase His enormous strength in my ginormous weakness.

So, I’m learning not to fear the crashes. 

I’m a long way from success, yet, now, it’s easier to see a simple truth:

Crashes precede victories.

You’ve heard it before:  Breakdowns precede breakthroughs. 

What crash in your world is prep for a God-shaped deliverance? Pray a simple “Jesus, help!” then trust fully and watch Him work all things together for good.