I wasn’t really allowed to tell them how afraid I really was on the inside. In the months leading up to the surgery, they had already convinced themselves and subsequently started convincing me that everything would be okay and that I had absolutely nothing to worry about. Again, thank God for godly friends!

In fact, the only time I ever really got overwhelmed about the surgery was the day it was confirmed that I actually needed surgery in the first place. I accidentally told the wrong person that I had to undergo surgery on my vocal cords and their response was a whopping, “What if you’re never able to talk again?!” …. This is why you need godly, faith-filled friends! Lol

I tried to ignore that comment, but after experiencing a pretty rough day, when I got home and tried to go to bed, every negative thought that was possible collided into my brain all at once and I sat there in the dark and cried as hard as I could. How could God allow a singer, His “worship leader” no less, to have to have surgery on their vocal cords? I thought I was doing something good by using my voice to sing for God and all I ended up with is damaged vocal cords? Is God even really with me in the first place? Why is this happening to me? I was so confused.

Thank God for His Spirit because something just told me that night to stop crying, lie down, go to bed, and know that everything is going to be okay. I had no reason to believe that, but I submitted. I just didn’t feel like thinking anymore.

After that night, that’s when my godly friends stepped in. When I got to work the next day, I started telling my co-workers that I had found out I was going to have surgery on my vocal cords. The story could not even fully come out of my mouth before they already started telling me the doctor would have no choice but to do the surgery well and that by the time the doctor was finished I would be singing like an angel.

And now at the time that I’m writing this, I’m currently tearing a little bit; not because I’m sad and not because I’m a punk (lol), but because I’m aware that things could have gone much differently for me if I was not surrounded by people who encouraged and supported me every day. Before and after that surgery, despite how I felt on the inside, I was surrounded by people who often reminded me that a worship singer is not just my job, it’s who I am.

Whenever I was around my friends, I literally was never allowed to even think negatively about myself concerning my upcoming surgery. My co-workers/friends consistently (almost permanently) made jokes about how good I would be able to sing after the surgery was over, how I would be back to my normal self in no time, and how proud of me they are every time they see me singing. Thank God for godly friends!

The decision to either give up or stick to the plan God has for our lives is heavily influenced by the types of people we have around us. What voices are speaking loudest in our ears: voices of negativity or voices of encouragement?

The circles we choose to run in mold the difference between success and failure, quitting or staying the course. Sometimes you can be doing everything you can to build yourself up, but if you surround yourself with people who put you down, you will be put down. Other times, you yourself can be your own worst enemy, but if you surround yourself with people who build you up, you will be built up. We should all choose our friends and our circles wisely. It’s my belief that we should all aim to be surrounded by faith-filled, godly friends!