Ella could barely keep from jumping up and down. Tomorrow was the day. The day all her dreams would come true. She entered her apartment and wrinkled her nose at the stale and stuffy odor. She opened the door to the balcony, letting in the fresh evening breeze.

Her phone rang and she glanced at the screen. “Hi, Mom.”

“Are you ready for tomorrow?”

“Not yet. I’m going to run through a couple of songs tonight, drink a lot of water, and get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow is the start of my new life.”

“Oh, Ella, don’t pin all your hopes on this one audition. This isn’t everything.”

Ella frowned. “Mom, this is my chance to be noticed. If I get chosen to sing on this show, I can share God’s message with the world.”

“You do that every Sunday in church.”

“That’s not the same thing. The same hundred people hear me each week. They’re already Christians. My dream is for my music to change lives. That’s what God wants me to do. As soon as I saw the show was holding auditions here, I knew God was giving me the chance. He wants me to use my singing and songwriting talents to serve Him. And what better way to do that than to try out for the singing competition? The winner gets a contract with a record label.”

Mom hesitated a moment before speaking. “I’m excited for you, dear, and yes, I think this would be an amazing opportunity. I’ll be praying for you tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Mom. I’m going to go practice now.”

Ella disconnected and started her vocal exercises, followed by a long drink of water. She rolled her shoulders, stretched her neck, and turned on her accompaniment track.

She allowed God’s love and peace to wash over her as she poured her heart into the song. She sang of hope amid despair, of clinging to God’s promises when all else seemed lost. When she finished the final chorus, she moved to the next song. She sang every song she’d written that year. It was a perfect performance. She’d never sung so well before. What a shame there was no one to hear it. Maybe it was God’s way of preparing her for tomorrow.

~*~

Ella fumbled with the key in the lock and shoved the door open, slamming it behind her. Finally alone, she allowed the tears to fall. How could she have been so wrong? God didn’t want her to sing at all. She threw herself on the bed, sobbing until the tears were gone. Her head pounded, and she poured herself a tall glass of water. She pulled out her phone. Two missed calls and a text from Mom. She’d better get it over with.

“I didn’t get it.”

“Oh, honey, what happened?”

Ella rubbed the back of her neck. “I started singing ‘Hold On,’ and I didn’t even get to the chorus before they asked me to sing something else. They said they didn’t have a market for songs that were too preachy. I started then with “His Love,” and they asked me if I sang anything that wasn’t about God. I told them no, and they said thanks but no thanks.”

“I’m so sorry. I know this meant so much to you.”

Ella let out a slow breath. “It did, but I was wrong. God must not be calling me to sing.”

“Elizabeth Grace, you were not wrong. You have a beautiful voice and an amazing talent for songwriting. God wants you to use your talents to serve Him. This show just isn’t the way He’s calling you to do so.”

“Thanks Mom, but if God is going to make it so hard to figure Him out, I won’t bother. I think it’s time to take a break from singing. I’ve got to go.”

Ella switched her phone off. She needed to clear her head. She laced up her sneakers and headed out for a run.

Three days later, Ella had kept her word. She hadn’t sung a single note since the competition. She showered in silence, walked to the train station in silence, and ran in silence. A part of her was dead. She muddled through her day job in a daze. Her dream of touching people through music was over. What else did she offer?

As she unpacked groceries into the refrigerator, a knock on the door made her jump. Who could that be? She peered through the peephole to find a man about her age, with dark hair and a hopeful expression. She latched the chain and opened the door the three inches the chain allowed. “Can I help you?”

“That depends. Are you the singer?”

Ella swallowed against the lump in her throat. “No. I don’t sing.”

The man visibly deflated, and his shoulders slumped. “You were my last hope.”

Ella stared at him through the opening. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve knocked on every door in this building, trying to find the woman who was singing Tuesday night.”

Ella frowned at him. “Why? Do you want to yell at her for disturbing your peace?”

The man’s eyebrows shot up. “No, no, of course not. I’ve never heard a voice like that before. Her voice was a gentle stream, like every note was woven from the fabric of heaven.”

Ella stared at him. Something clicked. “Tuesday night, you said?” The night before the audition.

The man nodded. “I’m Liam. You’re the singer, aren’t you?”

“I’m Ella, but I don’t sing anymore. That part of my life is over.”

Liam’s face fell. “That’s a shame. I have to find her. I was sure she was in this building.”

“Why is it so important?”

Liam cocked his head at her. “Do you have a few minutes? Would you like to grab a coffee across the street? I’d rather not tell this story in the doorway.”

Ella paused for a moment, but a gentle nudging in her soul told her to go with Liam. “Fine. I’ll meet you across the street in five minutes.” She closed the door and sucked in a breath. She was still mad at God for crushing her dream, but she couldn’t help but be curious about why it was so important for Liam to find her. After washing her face and running a brush through her hair, she threw on a jacket and crossed the street. Liam stood by the counter.

“What can I get you?”

“Small decaf, two sugars.”

Liam nodded, placed the order, and carried the cups to a table at the corner of the shop. He set the cups on the table but didn’t touch his. His gaze found hers, and he pressed his lips together for a moment before speaking.

“This past weekend, my girlfriend broke up with me. I found out she was cheating on me with my brother.”

Ella pressed a hand to her chest. “That’s awful. I’m so sorry.”

“It gets worse. Tuesday, my boss called me into his office and told me the company is facing bankruptcy. He told me he was sorry, but he couldn’t afford to pay me any longer. On top of that, my last paycheck bounced. My student loans are due, and I probably won’t be able to make my rent. Tuesday night was the lowest night of my life. I couldn’t face all the betrayal and loss. I was sitting in my kitchen, a bottle of sleeping pills in my hand, fully prepared to end my life.”

Ella gasped. “No!”

Liam stilled her with a glance. “Just as I was about to open the bottle, something prompted me to open the window. As soon as I did, the most beautiful song I’d ever heard floated in. Words of promise, of hope, and of God’s love filled me with peace. At that moment, my childhood faith came back to me. The songs continued and filled my heart. By the time the final note rang out, my trust in God had been restored. God sent me a message through those songs. I’ve since re-dedicated my life to Christ, I’m moving in with a friend to save on rent, and I have resumes out at several companies. I wouldn’t have chosen things to turn out this way, but because of my low point, I found God again. All because of the singer. I just wanted her to know.”

Ella’s eyes welled with tears once more. No, God didn’t give her the spot on the TV show, but He’d given her so much more. The gift of life.

Luke 15: 4-10

Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

God, You aren’t a God of numbers. If we can bring one lost soul to heaven, then our efforts are worth it. Help us use our gifts and talents to serve You, but help us not get lost in what the world considers being a success. If we follow Your word and Your plan for our lives, we will find genuine success in Your eyes. Please help us hear Your voice and follow what You would have us do. Thank You for Your never-ending faithfulness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.