The Matthew 28:19 Project

“Let’s just praise the Lord. Let’s just lift our hands toward Heaven and praise the Lord.” Those words have been echoing in my heart, and honestly, they feel more like an invitation than just a lyric. An invitation to pause, to breathe, and to remember where my help and my peace truly come from. The song “Let’s Just Praise the Lord” by the Mylon Hayes Family has a way of doing that, gently pulling my focus back where it belongs.

Music has always reached me when nothing else could. For most of my childhood, songs by Barbara Mandrell and Reba McEntire were my escape when life felt overwhelming. As you know, I was bullied growing up. Being hearing-impaired, quiet, and shy made me an easy target. I found refuge in music. As I got older, that connection deepened, especially with Reba. She’s been a part of my life for 41 years now. Through her music, I’ve seen parts of the country I might never have experienced otherwise, and I’ve built friendships that have lasted a lifetime. And in a way only God can orchestrate, that journey even led me to discover the soothing power of gospel music.

And this year, well, it’s been a little rough. My soul has felt battered and bruised. When it started craving that familiar sense of peace, I knew exactly where to go. Last weekend, I headed to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for the Singing in the Sun event—a week filled with many of my favorite southern gospel artists. I wasn’t even sure I could go this year, with gas prices what they are, but sometimes you just know when your soul needs something. I took a few days off work and made my way to the beach.

The main event was nightly, but during the day, they held a showcase featuring lesser-known gospel artists. On this particular day, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my morning, so I decided to go to the daytime showcase. Partly because I wanted to start my morning with the kind of music that settles my spirit. And partly because I waited too long to book a fishing trip, and everything was full! But truthfully, it was exactly where I needed to be. The music helped quiet the noise in my mind and eased the weight I had been carrying.

Later that afternoon, I took a walk along the beach, AirPods in, and that same song was still looping in my head. I played Let’s Just Praise the Lord again. And somewhere between the sound of the waves and the truth of those lyrics, something shifted. The tension, the frustration, the heaviness, all of it began to melt away. Right there on the shoreline, I had my own little praise-and-worship moment! No stage, no crowd, just me and God. And it was exactly what my soul needed. God knew. He always does. He knew when I needed it and how I needed it, and He used music to meet me right there. He is sneaky like that!

Now, I was raised Southern Baptist, and lifting hands in worship just wasn’t something we did. But something about this weekend, it stirred something new in me. And I realized, my hands can lift toward Heaven in praise. There were two moments during Singing in the Sun that I won’t ever forget. One involved Chris Blue. The other, Triumphant Quartet.

Earlier in the week, I had been listening to the audiobook A Jesus Shaped Life by Lisa Harper, and she shared a story about being so moved by the Spirit during a CeCe Winans song that she took off her boots and threw them onstage. I remember thinking how wild that sounded and that I would never do something like that. But then, there I was in the arena for the final concert, and Chris Blue was singing Highway to Heaven. The Spirit was moving powerfully in that place. As I stood there, singing, dancing, smiling, hands lifted, I caught myself thinking, “I could totally throw my flip-flops at him right now…”

Now, let’s be honest, I was way up in the top row, and my arms were not about to make that kind of throw! But in that moment, I understood exactly what she meant. When the Spirit moves, all your usual reservations just fall away. You’re not thinking about who’s watching, you’re just responding to the Spirit.

The second moment came when the Triumphant Quartet sang Arise, My Love. And when they reached that powerful declaration—that death has no sting and the grave cannot hold the King—the entire place erupted. We were on our feet, hands raised, jumping, celebrating because our King is alive! I can honestly say I have never experienced worship like that before. The presence of God was so real, so overwhelming that it almost felt like stepping outside yourself for a moment.

Moments like that remind me of something important. Music can soothe the soul, yes, but only one person can save it. And that’s Jesus Christ. If you’ve never accepted Him as your Savior, you don’t have to wait for a moment like I experienced this weekend. You can come to Him right where you are. Talk to Him. Ask for forgiveness. Invite Him into your life. That decision will change everything, and in ways you can’t even begin to imagine.

Because if you had told me a year ago that I would be standing in an arena, hands raised, singing at the top of my lungs, tears streaming down my face, jumping in worship, I would have laughed. That just wasn’t me. I’m too reserved, too modest, and way too self-conscious.

God had other plans because I know that He is sneaky like that. He arranged things so I would attend this event on my own, surrounded by people I didn’t know, with no reservations, expectations, or self-consciousness holding me back. And in that space, He gave me the freedom and the confidence to worship Him in a way I never had before.

Here is what I’m holding onto after all of this: the music, the moments, the beach, the worship, the laughter, even the tears; none of it was random. It was God, gently and intentionally meeting me right where I was. Using every note, every lyric, every wave hitting the shore to remind me that He sees me, He knows me, and He cares about me and the condition of my soul.

Yes, music can soothe a weary heart. It can quiet the noise and bring a sense of peace when life feels overwhelming. But only Jesus saves and only He restores. Jesus can take a soul that feels worn down and breathe life back into it again.

And the beautiful thing is, He knows exactly how to reach each of us. For me, it was through gospel music on a beach and in moments of worship I never expected to have. For you, it might look completely different. But make no mistake, He’s pursuing you, too.

Whether you’re standing on a shoreline, sitting in your car, or lying awake at night, He’s there. Drawing you in, calling your name, inviting you into something deeper. And if you’ve never accepted Him into your heart, you can do that right now. It doesn’t have to be complicated or perfect. It is simple, really, because all you need to do is just talk to Him. Just ask Him to forgive your sins, to come into your life, and to be your Lord and Savior. He hears you, and He will meet you right where you are.

If you’ve drifted further from Him than you ever intended, you don’t have to stay there. You can come back to Him because the same God who met me on the beach and in a crowd is also waiting for you with open arms, steady peace, and a love that will never leave you.