I Quit Choir

[brightfuture2172]

Hi all,

I joined my church choir last year. I wrote a couple of posts about struggles I had. I CAN sing and carry a tune, but when I sing in an organized setting like choir, I get nervous. Many times when I went up in the choir loft Sunday morning, I felt a bit out of place. I was totally welcomed and the choir members and director are great. I just didn't feel like it was ME.

I told the director I wasn't returning for the 16-17 year. I'm not saying I'll never be back but I don't think it will be any time soon. I'm struggling a bit with guilt now. I often find it hard to make decisions and this one I just did it. I will be glad to have my Thursday nights free as I am most likely going to be volunteering that night some of the time.

Anyway, I did pray about it. I wasn't sure if God was saying anything in particular. It almost felt like any decision would be OK. I really didn't want to go back and since I struggle while I'm there, it's kind of pointless in a way. I will miss the people but will still see them at church and am glad I got to know them. I guess that's the part I'm struggling with.

Thanks for listening!

 

[DiscipleHeLovesToo]

in order to hear God when you're in a crisis (such as when your doctor gives you some bad news), you have to practice hearing Him when you aren't in a crisis; He gives you free will, but has advice for every decision you make (and He's always right).

find a quiet place, calm your thoughts, ask God what you should do, and listen - you'll hear Him - then do what He tells you no matter how uncomfortable it might make you feel at first. if you don't forsake His leading in the smaller decisions, you'll be able to hear Him when the big decisions come

 

[brightfuture2172]

I can go back in the future, if God leads me to do so but I felt like I didn't really belong in the choir many a time. It didn't feel like me. Have you ever felt like that while trying out different ways to serve?

I am planning to use my former practice night to do volunteering, so that I will have some experience under my belt related to my new career.

 

[Greg J.]

It is very common for people to look for what God wants them to do by trying things—some people even suggest that is what some people should do. Naturally, they run into lots of things that God didn't call them to do.

The message I get from your posts is not that you have a real issue regarding going to choir or not, but that you are struggling with the issue. Are you under any obligation to attend choir? If not, then it is 100% fine to not attend. There's nothing to apologize for. Self-guilt or Self-condemnation may actually be the issue here.

If your concern is that you don't feel like you are serving the Lord, but that he wants you to be, then you can stop worrying about that. Instead focus on your time with him (personal Bible study and prayer to start with).

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33, 1984 NIV)

God will lead you to what he wants at the proper time.

for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (Philippians 2:13, 1984 NIV)

What activities brings you joy? Do those.

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31, 1984 NIV) If you like this verse, you might read the very short book, The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. (It's almost pamphlet-sized.)

 

[brightfuture2172]

Yes, Greg, that's it exactly. I actually feel much better about having quit, having had a conversation with the choir director. She was very understanding but said I was welcome back anytime.

 

[FutureAndAHope]

Hi all,

I joined my church choir last year. I wrote a couple of posts about struggles I had. I CAN sing and carry a tune, but when I sing in an organized setting like choir, I get nervous. Many times when I went up in the choir loft Sunday morning, I felt a bit out of place. I was totally welcomed and the choir members and director are great. I just didn't feel like it was ME.

I told the director I wasn't returning for the 16-17 year. I'm not saying I'll never be back but I don't think it will be any time soon. I'm struggling a bit with guilt now. I often find it hard to make decisions and this one I just did it. I will be glad to have my Thursday nights free as I am most likely going to be volunteering that night some of the time.

Anyway, I did pray about it. I wasn't sure if God was saying anything in particular. It almost felt like any decision would be OK. I really didn't want to go back and since I struggle while I'm there, it's kind of pointless in a way. I will miss the people but will still see them at church and am glad I got to know them. I guess that's the part I'm struggling with.

Thanks for listening!

What you said is probably right, it does not matter if you are a part of the choir or not. Not because you have no value, or no value to them, but rather it is just not a life choice/direction moment.

I would say the thoughts that you don't fit in there are probably not on the money, by that I mean we as humans have a tendency to be critical, when we feel a little down on our selves, we often criticize ourselves, if we feel strong we can lean towards criticizing others. I am not saying you have a critical spirit or anything like that, you sound like a very tender, nice person, but rather it is just the way our minds can work. I would say if you stuck it out you would do very well in choir. But like I said it is no issue, problem, or character defect on your part, just we can feel bad about our selves when in reality you were probably doing well.

 

[brightfuture2172]

Love the username, FutureandAHope! Thanks, also, for your kind words. I am glad I stuck it out last year. Maybe not belonging isn't the best way to describe it. I guess I just wasn't sure it was really "me" or ifI fit or if I was really supposed to be there. I am pretty critical of my own singing, though I feel I do better when I sing on my own or in a bigger crowd. I really enjoyed spending time with the lovely choir members. Maybe I'll join again for one of their cantatas sometime. That was one of the favorite parts of the choir experience.