A few years ago, I began to develop seasonal allergies. It got so bad my vocal chords were actually damaged. For a time my voice hurt all day, every day. As a worship leader, it was very sad for me because I could barely sing. Yet singing worship songs is my favorite thing to do!
While helping with a kids' discipleship school at YWAM Tyler, I turned on music and told the kids to ask God to give them a picture to draw that would encourage someone. My son drew a picture of me singing worship songs with people watching and saying "Yay!" and "Cool!". He then told me, "It's a picture of God healing your voice." I was encouraged by my sweet son, so I kept asking people to pray for my voice. It got slightly better but still was weak, and I couldn't sing high like I used to at all.
I kept believing God, but at times I doubted too, wondering if I'd ever really have my voice back. Then one day I asked a friend to pray for me about my dream to do open air worship on the street. He didn't know my voice had been damaged but asked God to make my voice louder and stronger. Since then my voice HAS been getting louder and stronger, and now it is the loudest and strongest it has ever been! I annoy my kids all day long singing at the top of my lungs.
I recently got to record a song that I wrote, which is something I hadn't done in seven years; something that would have been impossible for my voice last year. Since then I have been able to travel across America singing in churches and doing open air worship on the streets!
Take courage dear friends; you may have given up on your dreams, but I assure you God has not.