VOCALS
SING PRAISE IN EVERY SEASON: A REFLECTION ON SINGING AFTER A STROKE | Renée Maranan
“ Renee, I had a stroke on Monday.”
This was the first line of a text I received from one of my long-time voice students in July, and I had to do a double-take when I first read it.
“ I am not too sure what this means for me right now,” she continued.“ I will keep you posted.”
Delores has been studying voice with me for almost seven years. She leads the worship team at her church and is deeply committed to cultivating the voice that God gave her. She rarely misses a lesson or practice unless she is truly ill. She also keeps a very full life, juggling her work as a successful entrepreneur with her family life, fitness routine, volunteer work, and regular self-care.
It would be an understatement to say that the stroke caught her by surprise. But the stroke itself was just the beginning of a whole chapter full of unknowns. As for me, it forever changed my understanding of what it means to truly sing God’ s praise in every season.
All things considered, Delores was very fortunate in that the stroke didn’ t impact her severely. Her speech was virtually unimpaired, her voice sounded almost totally normal, and she was already starting to regain her strength and balance. Her doctors assured her that her recovery was going well by all measures, but under the surface, she could feel that things had changed, especially when it came to her singing. This frustrated and saddened her.
As someone who has been accompanying her through her singing journey these last few years, it saddened me, too. I’ ve helped her navigate so many challenges with her singing in the past, from expanding her range to strengthening her belt to managing vocal fatigue through very busy worship seasons. This time, I could see that she was struggling, but there was nothing I could do to help her fix it, at least not within the span of a single voice lesson. At the first lesson we had after her stroke, it became clear that this season will take us down a long road, full of uncharted territory. I was prepared to be more strategic and well-informed in my teaching. She was determined to be persistent and gracious towards herself. But all the same, uncertainty hung over us like a cloud.“ I am not too sure what this means for me right now,” her words echoed in my mind. Neither of us knew what this meant for her voice, her ministry, and her singing journey.
By the time we had our second lesson after her stroke, Delores wanted to work on“ Indescribable” recorded by Chris Tomlin, written by Laura Story, a song that she felt very comfortable singing and that she had sung many times before. She sang without accompaniment. Her voice was getting stronger, but still not as strong as it used to be. She struggled somewhat to sustain the longer phrases. Nevertheless, I found myself listening to her, not just as her voice teacher, but also as a fellow singer and friend. And by the time she got to the final chorus, God’ s word suddenly became plain for me to hear:
Indescribable, uncontainable You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name You are amazing, God
All powerful, untameable Awestruck, we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim You are amazing, God …
… Incomparable, unchangeable You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same You are amazing, God You are amazing, God
We sing praise to God to the best of our ability, not because He expects flawlessness, but because He is worthy. We pour our hearts into song, not because it makes for good entertainment, but because we are overflowing with His grace and mercy. We sing praise in every season, not because God is relentlessly demanding, but because He is relentlessly loving. Whatever our voices may reflect from within, whether it be joy or sorrow, hurt or healing, God hears all of it in the songs that we sing, and He embraces us without fail, without condition, without exception.
This is why we sing praise in every season. This is how we sing praise in every season. Because we know that God is amazing, and His love for us is beyond measure.
Delores continues to get stronger whenever I see her for voice lessons. She continues to work with her team of healthcare practitioners, and I have encouraged her to see a speech language pathologist to ensure the best possible care for her voice. She continues to have good days and bad days, and she continues to sing through them all. And through her, God continues to teach me to sing praise in every season.
This story was shared with the subject’ s permission.
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Renée Maranan Renée Maranan is a vocal instructor, voice teacher trainer, and life coach, with over 20 years of experience working with singers, vocal instructors, and performers from all over the world. For more vocal help, visit her www. reneemaranan. com or follow her on Instagram(@ reneemaranan). www. ReneeMaranan. com Instagram @ reneemaranan
32 September 2025 Subscribe for Free...