Praying For A Shot To Sing

Praying For A Shot To Sing

My heart is confident in you, O God; no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart! Psalm 108:1

Nashville is affectionately called Music City, and it seems there is a venue for live music on nearly every corner. Musicians and wannabes flock to Nashville to work in the industry, or at least to rub shoulders with like-minded individuals.

Many of my patients are in the music business, and those who sing depend on their voices to make a living. Unlike a piano player, for example, when vocalists get sick, they can literally lose their jobs, so it puts a lot of pressure on me when they can’t sing.

Toni came to see me in the middle of flu season. It seemed that nearly every patient I saw that week had some sort of upper respiratory ailment.

“I can’t talk, much less sing,” she whispered. “And I have an audition tomorrow. I’ve been working on it for months, and I really need the job.”

She looked pitiful sitting on the exam table. Her eyes were droopy, and her cheeks were flushed. She could barely speak above a whisper.

I ran some tests, and the results weren’t good. She had both strep and mono. Either one would be difficult to cure in time for her audition the next day, but with both, it was next to impossible. But together we would do what we could. I gave her a shot of antibiotics for the strep and a steroid shot to shrink the lymph tissue. That seemed like the best option considering the importance of her audition.

“This will get things started, but I need you to come back and see me next week, so I can make sure you’re recovering.”

“Of course!” she whispered. “But can you also pray for my audition? I really need this gig . . .”

I took her hands in mine, and we prayed for healing and for God’s will to be done at her audition.

The next week, Toni came back to the office. Not only did she feel better, but she was full of thanks and praise to Jesus.

“I got the tour!” she said, her voice as strong as ever. “I think the shots helped, but the prayers helped even more.”

TODAY’S RX

Even when it seems like a shot in the dark—pray!

Whenever I’m too lazy to pray, Lord, remind me that it is my lifeblood—that it keeps me hopeful and in communication with you for all that I need. Thank you for never being too lazy to listen.