Piano Lessons and Obedience

Piano lessons! How many years had it been since I sat on the piano bench with a teacher instructing me where to place my hands, teaching me the kinds of notes written music contained, and how to count the rhythms? Too many! As a child, I managed to make my way through John Thompson’s “Teaching Little Fingers to Play” and half of “John Thompson’s First Grade Book” with the help of two different teachers. Then Mama broke the news. “Janie, we don’t have enough money to pay for any more lessons. I’m sorry. But if you really want to learn, you can teach yourself; that’s what I did.”

As a child, I wasn’t too disturbed by the news. Although I enjoyed piano lessons, I dreaded the required practicing and Mama’s insistence that I would practice for an entire 30 minutes before I could go play. It was so boring to have to play the same dumb song a thousand times! (I’m speaking “evangelastically”—stretching the truth a bit to make a point!)

Over the next handful of years, I played at learning a few songs. I inherited a good “ear” for music from both my Mom and my Dad. Mom played piano for church, and Dad led the singing. He and Mom sang in a quartet with Dad’s twin sister, Aunt Doris, and her husband, Uncle Claude. My personal favorite? “Springs of Living Water.” Little by little, I taught myself how to play it—Mama’s way! You see, Mama didn’t have formal piano lessons; she taught herself what she wanted to learn on an old piano my grandfather bought for her when she was 15 years old. He acquired it from a honky-tonk bar, but that’s another story!

By now you know you probably realize I am not a classically trained pianist; I’m self-taught. It wasn’t until I went to college and majored in music that I learned the names for all those chords I was hearing in my head and how to form them on the piano and write them on paper. After graduating junior college with an Associate of Arts degree in Music, I chose to leave school and get married. Over the years, my piano skills developed enough to allow me to teach beginning piano students. With years of experience under my belt, I am now qualified to teach piano students up to the early advanced stage before sending them on to another more qualified teacher.

In August of 1985, following a very devastating season in my life, I decided that I wanted to take piano lessons again. In my Bible reading at that time, I read this verse: “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4 NIV) Finally, on August 28, I went to register for lessons at the University of Alaska Anchorage. There was one small problem; I had no money! I needed $195 to register. I decided to stand on that promise and refuse to doubt. I felt that God desired me to take a step of faith and go register even though I had no money. I went.

You might disregard what I am about to say and even call it foolishness, but it is the truth! I stood in line at Station 1, and when I got to within two or three people of being at the table, I sensed a presence move in and stand next to me. I do not know if it was the Lord or a ministering angel of the Lord, but a quiet voice simply said, “I am here.”

When I left Station 1, I sensed another being coming alongside and walking with me on the opposite side. I was flanked by two beings I could not see—one on each side. Even though they were invisible, they were as real to me as two beings could possibly be.

I proceeded on through all the stations until I got to the one where you pay. While I waited in line, a lady came taking questions. I explained my situation to her, and she told me there was nothing they could do to help me. She said, “Either you pay or you don’t register.” She said I might try Financial Aid and see if they had anything available, but she seriously doubted there would be any help they could give me.

I wanted to cry, and I almost left. However, I had decided I would take it as far as I could humanly go, so I went to Financial Aid. The girl there informed me that there was nothing they could do to help; I would just have to wait until I had the money. I thanked her and left. Once again, I wanted to cry as I walked out the door, but I refused to question the Lord. I had such peace.

As I walked down the sidewalk, one of the college career girls from my church was just coming in. I did not know her very well. We stopped to say hi. When she asked me if I was registering for school, I didn’t know what to say. I just stood there and looked at her. She asked me if I was still deciding. “No,” I replied. “I have decided. I came and registered as far as I could go, but I can’t pay for it.” She thought I had a loan and simply didn’t have the money yet. Tears began to make their way down my cheeks as I explained that I couldn’t get a loan, and I had come by faith today because that’s what I believed God wanted me to do.

She looked at me in shock! “I can’t believe God’s timing!” she said excitedly. “I was going to come earlier, but I was helping friends move, and then my friend’s car broke down, so I came late. How much is your bill?” I told her the amount. “I can pay for that—let me pay for that!” At that point, all I could do was stand there and praise God with tears streaming down my face. She immediately took out her checkbook and wrote a check for the full amount! \o/ I thanked her profusely, and wiping the tears from my eyes, I went back in and paid for my registration. If I had left earlier, I would have missed her completely!

I learned a crucial lesson that day—one that I would be required to live by in the years to come. God is faithful! When we choose to take Him at His Word and stand on His promises, we are the victors! If she had not come, I would still have benefited from believing Him and choosing to trust Him whether I was able to register or not.

I am not amazed that God did it, but I am amazed at how He chose to do it. I praised Him that day for the growing I had done that gave me the ability to obey Him without question even though it seemed foolish to others. I praised Him for being present with me as I went in obedience.

What steps of obedience do you need to take? Has He spoken something to you that requires you to take steps of faith? Do it! No matter what, you will be the winner when you “Trust and Obey.”