Smile
This is your friendly pastoral reminder to smile when you lead worship. And yes, “just playing guitar” counts as leading worship.
You ain’t off the hook either, drummers.
As for you bass players…you’re gonna need to hear it from someone other than me.
To the Word we go…
Psalm 34:5 | NIV
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
Isaiah 51:11 | NIV
Those the Lord has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Proverbs 17:22 | NIV
A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Psalm 4:7 | ESV
You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.
Psalm 32:11 | NIV
Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!
And there’s a lot more where that came from.
Let’s commit to just get rid of the cool-kid-mean-mug, shall we?
Of course there’s time for mourning. Of course there’s time for grief. But our hope is a hope that endures through any earthly trial. So if we always have a reason to praise, we always have a reason to smile.
I often used to tell my team, “Tell your face what your heat believes.”
Because it doesn’t always come naturally, I understand that. Listen, I too am sometimes guilty of the overly-concentrated-gotta-nail-this-part face that looks like a mixture of painful constipation and news that there won’t be a Jack Ryan season 5. But never underestimate the power of a smile to break the wall down between the stage and the seats.
Your congregation needs to see your joy—it will lead them.
So if you’re too focused on playing that lick and can’t get your face to light up at the same time, practice more…or learn an easier lick. Practice that part until you can do it smiling. Find a way to free yourself from the bondage of concentration so that you can employ your entire mind, soul and body in the praise of your King.
It’s worth it. He’s worth it.