5 Pointers On Nervous Situations Out Of Your Control - Part 2

May 08, 2025•5 min read

"...church is not a place for only those people who have it all together. No way! Church is for saved sinners: those who come in the door needy for the means of grace (which is the blessing and strength we receive from worship, the preaching of God’s Word, prayer and other components of the church service)."

How do our personal circumstances and relationships with people within our congregation trigger anxiety, fear, and nervousness?

As we continue to go through this series on Nervous Situations Out Of Our Control, we'll be looking at these two aspects/points in further detail.

Last week, we considered the first point: a fear of playing in front of people (stage fright). We looked at how this can often be a form of pride, where we're more concerned about what other people are thinking about us and pre-occupied with our selves, and this is something we need to confess to God, be forgiven, and move on from. We also were reminded that when we are helping out with the music for the church service, it isn't a performance!

And now for the second point...

Interpersonal issues with others within the congregation

This can be really difficult, and it is an issue for some people. We’re assuming that you have already taken care of that which is in your control to perhaps heal a broken relationship or deal with a conflict. But the reality is, you can’t make people reconcile. Sadly, this does mean, at times, you might be dealing within someone “out there in the congregation”, who's singing as you play the piano, but doesn’t like you very much, and would quite happily see you make a mistake. It’s sad when it happens, but unfortunately, it is a reality.

So what do you do about that?

Well, it has to begin with a clear conscience. And by that, I mean, as I said before, that you have done all you can to reconcile, that you are open to reconcile, and that you are not holding onto any bitterness or unforgiveness, as Paul also says in Romans 12:18…

18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Sometimes it’s just not possible, and when that’s the case, the vital thing to remember is that your conscience is captive to the Lord, not to others who have an issue with you. You are seeking to please Him, not them.

So to be overly concerned and nervous is to place too much weight on their opinion and not enough on God’s, who is for you, not against you.

Practically speaking, here's a way to check your heart: if a particular person is really bothering you, just pray for them before you start playing, and if you need to, and if you can, continue even while you are playing. All the while, keep your focus on the Lord as you lead His people in worship.

You never know, they may have had a change of heart and might even be praying for you!

Difficult emotional/spiritual issues in our own lives

This is also a reality in our lives. We’re normally playing the piano in church because it’s been planned in advance, but what wasn’t planned (in our physical understanding) was that trial you went through last week or the morning of the church service, or even that issue you’re battling with from a difficult emotional experience you’ve been through.

We can be encouraged, though, in remembering that church is not a place for only those people who have it all together. No way! Church is for saved sinners: those who come in the door needy for the means of grace (which is the blessing and strength we receive from worship, the preaching of God’s Word, prayer and other components of the church service).

It is easy for these things to take away our confidence and make us more “fragile”. However, the best advice I can give here is…

Firstly - ask a brother or sister in the Lord to pray for you. Also, if you know them well, then let them know you’re struggling - they will appreciate your honesty and most likely be very happy to pray for you.

I hope there are some people in your church who are willing to do what it says in Galatians 6:2...

2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Secondly - this is where as much as possible, as you play the piano, you want to focus on the words you’re singing, and seek to really worship as you play. This isn't to the point where you’ve got hands raised and you stop playing, leaving the congregation wondering what’s going on - but even grasping a phrase or a line, and in between songs, asking the Lord for His grace and strength, and to praise Him for His goodness.

As Corrie Ten Boom once said - “if you look out at the world, you’ll be distressed, if you look in at yourself, you’ll be depressed, but if you look up to Christ, you’ll be blessed.”

In taking this approach, you can get through without being crippled by fear or anxiety over your current trials, and difficulties, knowing that you are in the best place you can be, which is with God’s people, where God’s Word is proclaimed.

And next week, we'll be looking at the last two pointers in this section of dealing with nervous situations out of our control.

[Return to The Church Piano Player Website]

This blog post was written by pastor and pianist Kris Baines, from The Church Piano Player. Kris lives in the UK with his family, having recently moved back from New Zealand where he worked as a pastor for the past 26 years (also leading worship/worship teams). Kris has also spent over 35 years writing, recording, and performing music and is now bringing all that combined experience together to help equip church piano/keyboard players.

Check out the church piano player website for more information on online courses by Kris Baines.