Trust the TeacHer and the Process

During the 1940’s my grandfather, mom and her sisters had a singing group. Zenobia

and her sisters grew up traveling and singing. One of the things she often spoke about was not being able to find an accomplished pianist. So when Zenobia became a mother, she was

adamant that all of her children learned how to play the piano. Out of the seven children, I am the only one who stuck to the process and became a piano player. By the age of 3 my brother Todd had taught me my notes and simple songs. So he gets the credit of being my first piano teacher. By the age of 5 I started taking lessons from a lady named Minnie Ruth Cartwright. I

had big dreams of being our church musician. When I turned 6, Mrs. Cartwright said, “You’re going to start playing for Sunday School, so make sure you are at the church by 8:45 a.m. So I had accomplished one of my dreams! I was now playing for my church.

By the age of 7 people were wanting piano lessons from me. I would get questions like, “Can you teach me how to play the piano?” “Show me how to do what you just did.” Some people thought that it was something I could show them a couple of times and that was all they needed. Wishful thinking wouldn’t you say? I wish the process was that simple. By the age of 9 I had my first student. She was in her early 30’s and had children older than me. She worked really hard and actually started playing for her church. She spoiled me as a teacher. What I mean is, she did everything that she was supposed to do and her success was inevitable. She had no choice but to be successful. She was excited to learn and pushed herself through the

practice it took to become a musician. Needless to say, my first student was an adult and I was a child and she still had to trust the process and be patient in order to learn what she needed to

learn. The truth around learning anything is that the scholar and the teacher both must have patience! If there is no patience there will be no success. Since I was a child, I have had people coming to me, asking, "Do you teach piano?” Can you teach my son/daughter? Oh, my favorite

one is, “Girl I saw you on Facebook and I want to learn how to play!” I have come to the realization that learning to play the piano isn't for everybody. Everyone does not possess the power to go through years and years of practice and study. The results are a waste of time for me and them. Who wants to be bothered with having their time wasted? Not me! You are probably wondering why I am discussing this in the first place. Well, many times when we are going through spiritual battles the Lord is trying to teach us something. Just like my

adult student had to trust me, we have to trust the Lord. Just like we both had to be patient with each other, we have to be patient with God. Maybe your battle is teaching you patience, maybe your battle is teaching you how to trust. Regardless of what your battle is teaching you. Pay

attention to the lesson.

The battle to trust God can only be won through the word of God. Proverbs 3:5-6 states, “trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy path. I will share with you the steps I take when I am trusting the Lord while in my battle.

1. I start my day off with gratitude! I can tell the Lord how much I appreciate him because of what Romans 8:28 states, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

2. I talk to Him about what is bothering me. Hebrew 4:16 states, “Let us therefore come

boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in the time of need.

3. I talk to my therapist on a weekly basis and If I need some more spiritual advice, I call my pastor. Proverb 24:6 states, “For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

4. I take the advice of those who counsel me.

5. I always take responsibility for where I am, what I did, what I allowed, and how I

responded to certain things. This step allows me to forgive myself first and others who have all these may not even know I am made at them.

These steps I have mentioned are helping me Cultivate a sense of peace, love, hunger for the word, and the sense of VICTORY!!!!!

Prayer: Lord, In the name of Jesus, Forgive me for trying to rush this process. I know that there are blessings in this place I am in and at the finish line of this situation. You are amazing, and you always work everything out for my good.

Amen!!!