Mandisa and The Gift of Sharing

Friday morning, the news of Grammy-winning Christian artist Mandisa hit my phone screen.

Once it registered just who the article was about, my emotions overtook my thoughts and I cried. Those tears continued throughout the day.

I remember when Mandisa was a contestant on American Idol in 2005. I was a busy college student, and the show no longer had my attention like it did in its earlier seasons, but I heard so much about the beautiful black woman from California. Me being me and full on supporting black women in any way I could, I tuned in and when I was able would call in to vote for her.

I loved her personality. She reminded me of myself. She too, was a California poppy who loved Jesus and wasn’t scared to deliver her brand of worship on the show. She had an amazing smile and just seemed like a total ray of sunshine.

I admired Mandisa’s confidence. She would get on stage, perform, enchant us all and keep it moving. She didn’t let opinions of other people intimidate her from using her gift of song to bless us with her voice. Even when nasty-spirited Simon Cowell made mean remarks about her weight and body size. She still smiled and performed. Like that still blows my mind because this world is not kind to people who are not the standard…of anything! That meant and still means a lot to me because I spent so much of my life hiding in the shadows until things were in perfect condition. Until being the perfect body size. Having the perfect hairstyle. Wearing the perfect fashions. Just always waiting in the “when I, then I” mindset. So watching her, would break pieces of insecurity off of me.

Mandisa carved her own space. She went on to win a Grammy and have a beautiful career singing songs and inspiring millions of people around the world despite her person hindrances.

Mandisa often shared about her struggles with her mental and emotional health. She experienced sexual trauma, heartbreak, friendship loss and severe depression. But again, her heart as a natural exhorter and ability to share her gifts, helped others with the same struggles. When she shared online, you could see how full of hope she was that Jehovah Rapha, her healer would help her and was helping her.

And this is the vein that I choose to stay in while I, as an admirer of Mandisa’s think about her.

She was rooted in who God created her to be and His love for her. Like myself, she was called to encourage people about their identity in Him and help them to see themselves as He sees them. I know firsthand that it’s not an easy calling to have. Because at our core, we are natural exhorters and so passionate about God and for people, oftentimes our emotions can be all over the place. We can encourage others even when while carrying so much discouragement in our own hearts towards ourselves. It’s a sticky space that NEEDS the balance and leading of holy spirit. That is a REALLY good thing because it keeps us dependent and connected to Him as our vine and lifeline but certainly not fun or comfortable when going through the seasons of learning how to balance it all. But even then, sharing about the process could help us and others.

And that’s what Mandisa would do. Share.

Even as I type this, I’m encouraged to know that if Mandisa could share her heart to help people even when she wasn’t feeling her best and things weren’t perfect- so can I. And so can you in the beautiful way that God calls you to.

He knows the gifts that he’s given us, because…He gave them to us! So let us share them with the world.

Here is one of my favorite songs of Mandisa:

https://youtu.be/v2rH5MMBGgA?si=ipWnONRAZCTKCDu3