Too Big a Task for Me

I had some good times on American Idol, but it wasn't all positive.  There were some difficult and emotionally draining aspects as well.  And while I am extremely grateful for the exposure it offered me, you have to admit that American Idol is not the most flattering stage - no matter who you are.  Think about it...  You're singing songs you barely know with basically no monitors so you can be scrutinized by millions of people.  You are terrified and everyone knows it.  And I don't care if you're Kelly, Carry, Chris, or Phil - EVERYONE has at least one bad performance on American Idol.  EVERYONE!

I felt like God had given me a task that was too big for me.

Now, my dad is a preacher.  As most kids do, I learned to block out dad's speaking voice when I was very young.  So he was forced to find new and inventive ways of preaching to me.  I'll never the lesson I learned from him about taking on a task that is too big.

I was 16 when I got a job as a server at Village Inn.  I started working there because all my buddies did, but I was terrible at it.  One Tuesday night, when the restaurant was fairly empty, my friends thought it would be funny to quit and just leave the place abandoned.  I watched as one by one, they fled for their cars, leaving one cook, a hostess, and me to take care of the restaurant by ourselves...

At first it was fine, because no one was there.  But little did we know that there was an Amway convention in town that had been let out.  Within 20 minutes, our store was filled to capacity with a wait in the lobby.

When I saw all those cars pulling into the lot, I called my dad to ask for permission to quit.  There was a pause on the phone before finally, dad said, "Well son, do you want to be a boy, or do you want to be a man?"

I said, "Uh, I dunno...  What do you want me to do?"

"Son, I want you to do what you have committed yourself to do."

I felt like the job was too big for me; that I would screw it all up.  But I submitted my will to my father's.  I jumped on top of the host station and screamed to the top of my lungs, "Welcome to Village Inn!"  Everyone cheered in excitement.  I was fortunate to have a very motivated group of people.  I said, "We are so excited that you decided to join us tonight, but I am your only server.  I will take care of you if you will be patient with me.  Is that a deal?"  Everyone screamed in approval.

This is the best part.  About two minutes later, as I was scurrying from booth to booth trying to get drink orders, the front door opened.  It was my dad.  He walked up to me and asked, "how can I help."

You see, just like my dad, if our heavenly father gives us a task, not only will He equip us with the tools we need to complete that task, but He will also go before us.  He will never leave us high and dry.  He'll be there to help us every step of the way.

I remembered that lesson throughout that season of American Idol.  And in the midst of that enormous task, I never felt alone.  I knew my heavenly father was with me.

Oh - and I made a killing that night in tips.  And a couple months later, I was promoted and given assistant manager responsibilities.  I prospered.  All because I submitted my will to my fathers.

If this story has blessed you, feel free to email your friends with the link pstacey.blogspot.com