Step onto the Stage

By Brandon Anderton

Could it be that we all have something inside us waiting to be released? What if that which is inside us, once released, could change our life stories?

Susan Boyle, a 47-year-old woman from Britain, experienced this scenario. All it took was a stage. In 2009 Susan walked on to the stage of Britain’s Got Talent wearing a dress that was as muted in color as the audience assumed her performance would be. Her appearance immediately said she couldn’t deliver what the judges were looking for.

As she spoke into the microphone to share her name, her accent caused some in the audience to laugh. When asked her age, one of the judges rolled his eyes. He asked her, “What’s the dream?” and she responded, “I’m trying to be a professional singer.”

As those words rolled out of her mouth, an audience member smirked with an expression that implied, As if you have a chance! Her walk, her look, her speaking, her answers—nothing seemed to suggest that she should be on that stage. But there she was, willing to offer what was waiting to be released.

Is it possible you too have something inside you waiting to be released? For example, you have knowledge. Over the course of your life, you have garnered layers of information, given to you from sources of all kinds. In fact, the knowledge you possess could change your life story. But how does this knowledge make its way into the realm of influence?

For Susan, it all started with a willingness to offer what had been hidden. Was there a platform? Sure, but it wasn’t the platform that brought out what was hidden. The stage was merely a place of opportunity. At some point in her journey, someone along the way encouraged her to take what was being kept inside and offer it on the outside. However, even with the encouragement, she still needed courage.

To bring what’s inside of us to the outside takes courage. As long as it’s kept within, no one can critique it, ridicule it or dismiss it. It seems safe if we keep it within. We refrain because we wonder, What if someone disagrees, challenges or shoots it down? If I just keep it inside, I can protect it, ultimately protecting me. And because of this, knowledge tends to die, often killing us in the process.

Susan may have missed her supposed prime, but she couldn’t choke the life of her talent any longer because in doing so, she was tragically choking herself. She shifted from what she knew about her talent to what she understood about her mastery: the understanding of just how good she was, where she could offer it and how it would best be delivered gave her the confidence to move her talent from something known to something understood.

Not only do we understand what we know, we understand why others should know it too. That’s what gives us confidence to seek out a stage to convey what we have to offer. Does this mean we’re certain? No, but confidence isn’t built on certainty; it’s built on understanding. Throughout history, people have taken a chance and stepped out in courage, with no certainty guaranteed. Certainty doesn’t require courage because there’s nothing to be concerned about. It’s a sealed deal, and the outcome has been decided. However, to step out without certainty takes real courage!

In the face of absolute uncertainty, and an unlikely candidate for the stage, Susan walked out on it with absolute courage. As the melody started to play, her mind began to race, her heart began to thump and her breathing sped up. In the midst of all of this, she raised the mic and shocked the world! Out came what had for too long been held within. All her knowledge and understanding culminated in an action that was so freeing that she fell into a flawless delivery and all perceivable obstacles disappeared. No longer was her awkward appearance the topic of conversation. All the audience could see was her talent.

For many years I have dived into the Book of Proverbs. From my childhood through my teenage years, my grandmother lovingly encouraged me to read them. She always said, “Brandon, there are 31 Proverbs—a chapter for each day of the month. If you’ll just read one of them a day, God will bless you with His wisdom, and it will guide you down the right paths of life.”

When she passed away December 31, 2023, at the age of 94, I thought back over the years of seeing her read Proverbs and how it had guided her life. I was inspired to read them again. Along the way, while going through them the January following her death, the knowledge that was inside me began to itch to come out and be shared in understanding. Uncertain as to how this could be offered, I simply began to write.

On the 16th, I opened an email template, pasted that day’s writings into it and pressed “send” to more than 1,100 email addresses. Everything in me wanted to reach into the internet and pull the email back. After all, who was I to offer commentary on a proverb from God’s Word? Yes, almost every Sunday I take the stage to preach to a congregation, but for some reason this felt different. It felt vulnerable. Here’s what went out:

In Proverbs 16, there are two verses that are separated by location but joined in thought: verse 3 and verse 9. “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” “In his heart, a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” Both verses speak of where you’re headed from where you currently are—short-term or long-term. Whatever direction you’re headed, the thoughts leading you there should be committed, handed over to God for Him to evaluate so He can determine whether or not this is what your next step should be. This simple pause before acting can lead to your success today and in the days to come! So, take a moment, pause and talk with God about what you’re considering; then move as He directs! Now, go and have a successful day!

Those words not only encouraged me to go for it, to talk with God, step out in courage and allow what was on the inside of me to come out, but they encouraged others as well. The response was overwhelming. It wasn’t rejected; it was received, even asked for!

So, I continued to write and share. With each passing day, my courage grew. I thought I would only offer this through the month of January—which then led to all of February—until the whole year had passed, and I had written 366 (because it was a leap year) devotionals to help and encourage others.

What was stored up in me, on reserve, through a simple act of courage, turned into what has now been published as four books. Publishing a book introduces an entirely new level of uncertainty. It’s one thing to send out emails, it’s another to publish, expecting someone to pay for it!

As Proverbs 16 instructed me to do, I had committed my plans to the Lord and mustered up the courage to step out into absolute uncertainty. This stage was different; it was way more exposed. My emails were the equivalent of Susan practicing in front of her family. It’s family—of course they love how you sound! Publishing a book was like stepping out on stage in front of Simon Cowell with a dress on! And yes, that would be awkward because I’m a guy. But here we are, on a stage standing with courage and no certainty. What I can say is this: I’m glad I walked out and took the mic!

So, what’s inside of you that uncertainty is trying to keep hidden? Is there knowledge you have that you’ve been itching to share? Have you shaped that knowledge into understanding so it can be delivered? If so, now is the time to act! Let that understanding turn into wisdom by submitting your plans to the Lord. Let Him shape them and then implement them for others to see!

Although Susan faced a setback in 2022 due to a stroke, she didn’t give up, and she recently returned to the music scene to offer again the gift she was given. Once you step out in courage, you know you can do it again. In the face of trials, trust in God, and He will see you through to set the course of your life. It’s time to step out on the stage!