You Can Ask God for What You Want
By Matthew K. Jenkins
Bethany UMC, Ellicott City, Artist & Worship Leader
In July, I had the honor of competing in, and ultimately winning, the You God’s Music Showcase, a national Christian music competition designed to uplift, inspire, and spotlight artists who carry a Kingdom message through their music.
Out of more than 300 contestants from across the country, I was selected as one of the final five to perform live at the historic Tobin Center for the Performing Arts in San Antonio, Texas. Sharing the stage with nationally recognized artists like Tauren Wells, Jordan Feliz, and Blanca, I was reminded that God's plans are always bigger than our expectations.
This journey was about far more than music. It was about faith, identity, and trust.
A Journey of Moments and Miracles
One of the most memorable moments came early on, just making it through the audition round. I believed in the message of the song, but there’s always that question: "Will anyone else see what I see? Did I do the song justice? Will they connect with it the way I did? Did I deliver it in a way that honors the message, or did I miss something?"
When I found out I made it, I was deeply encouraged. It reminded me that sometimes God uses others to affirm what He’s already placed in you, and even the most faithful among us still need that gentle reminder: "You belong here."
Another key moment came later in the competition, during the intense rounds of public voting. I had never done anything like this before, and to be honest, I wasn’t sure I could rally enough people to vote, especially since voting required a donation.
In that final round before the live showcase, only the top five would advance, and the results were determined by a combination of public vote and judges’ score, 50% each. When the votes were tallied, I came in sixth, just outside the cut. But then I found out the judges’ score had pushed me into the top five. They saw something. They believed in what I brought to the table.
That moment reminded me that favor can open doors that numbers can't, and that when man’s metrics say "not quite," God still has the final word.
Then came the live performance.
At soundcheck, I MISSED A CUE! My wife filmed it and sent it to me, lovingly, but urgently. I skipped dinner that night, sitting alone with my headphones, replaying that moment over and over. I was shaken. I’m known for covering mistakes well on stage, but this was different. This was being scored. This counted.
When I stepped on stage for the final performance, I was still shaking. But something shifted. Something else, someone else, took over. I nailed the performance. One of the judges even commented on how comfortable I looked, having no idea how nervous I truly was. They may have seen confidence, but what I experienced was grace in motion. It was a clear reminder that God doesn’t always take away the fear, but walks with us through it, and carries us when we can’t stand on our own.
A Word from My Pastor That Changed Everything
The night before I left for San Antonio, my pastor, Andrew Cooney, came to pray with me. Before he prayed, he asked, “What do you want me to ask God for?” I told him: safe travels, good connections, and a great experience/whatever God’s will is. He nodded, then paused.
“But do you want to win?”
I chuckled and said, “Of course, I’d like to win.”
Then he said something I couldn’t shake the entire trip:
“You can ask God for what you want.”
That stuck with me. Every time I prayed during the competition, I remembered that line. God’s not surprised, disappointed, or shocked by the desires of our heart. In fact, God delights in them, and sometimes answers them in ways that leave us speechless.
It’s Bigger Than Music
What I experienced through You God’s Music wasn’t just for me, and it wasn’t just about singing. This journey taught me that worship can reach beyond the church, that creativity is a Kingdom tool, and that faithfulness is never wasted.
I hope my story encourages others to:
- Step out and use their gifts beyond the four walls
- Believe that God can breathe on their calling and elevate it beyond expectation
- Trust God, even when the nerves hit and the pressure rises
And more than anything, I hope they know, this isn’t just about music. Whether you're a teacher, a designer, an entrepreneur, or an intercessor, the same principle applies: You can ask God for what you want.
And if your heart is aligned with God's, you might just get a yes.
Matthew Jenkins will be invited to Nashville to record a song professionally, and he will be given a team to put together a professional artist portfolio.