I try to listen for God’s voice throughout my day. Sometimes He speaks through an inner voice; other times He speaks through circumstances. Whatever the occasion, I know when it’s Him. My greatest measuring device for Truth is the Word of God.

Often, when I am in an especially difficult situation and I need reassurance, I have heard the Lord speak to me through analogies. Recently I received a beautiful symbolic mental picture. As I was seeking wisdom on how to deal with a difficulty, I saw in my mind a baby struggling to get out of his mother’s arms. I knew it was God because, although I am a creative person, that analogy came out of nowhere–and it hit me right between the eyes. The message was telling me to stop trying to pry myself out of God’s plan, protection and providence. Many times I get restless and don’t trust God’s perspective or timing. It was clear that God told me to settle down!

That’s good news for me because it means I can relax. He wasn’t asking me to do something as much as to trust Him. Life is a great-big mystery because, as humans, we don’t know what’s around the bend. We can forecast the weather, analyze the stock market, and watch the idiot lights on our car warn us when it needs servicing. Our walk through this life doesn’t come with devices like these, but I know that I have the Spirit to guide me safely through. When God speaks, I want to listen and obey.

The greatest stage performers make it look easy. Part of the secret is being comfortable with yourself; an audience is comfortable when the performer is comfortable. In fact, talent isn’t the main ingredient in a successful stage performer. Case in point: when the Carter sisters had sound troubles at a concert many years ago, and the bass wasn’t being heard in the P.A. system, Maybelle Carter, the matriarch and, by that point, a well-traveled and highly experienced entertainer, told the girls, “Just smile real loud!”

This advice is gold for any performer. You see, people hear with their eyes: communication is 15% words, 30% tone and emotion, and 55% what the audience sees. I’ve learned a lot from time spent on the road and on stages for over 30 years, making snap decisions when something malfunctions. One time in Houston, we expected our gear to arrive at the venue. Our concert was just hours away but, to our horror, only the snare drum and stand arrived–not the whole drum set; everything else arrived as planned. I turned to my brother Jon, and as the unfortunate bearer of bad news, my expression communicated the obvious: the show must go on. I knew for him it would be like doing a waltz on one leg. With trepidation and mild protest, he eventually succumbed, as a consummate professional does, and did the gig–with flair, by the way. Jon learned to “smile real loud” and received compliments on his drumming!

I do all I can in the planning stage to avoid these “MacGyver” types of situations. But if they do come without warning, know that you have more options than you think. Just make sure to bring along your dancing shoes in your gig bag…