For two-and-a-half years, Toni Robinson was out of work.

Frustrated, discouraged and with no way to pay her bills, she cried out to God for help.

“I was at a point where I had literally no money and no idea where my next meal was coming from,” the gospel singer said.

“Being out of work for so long can be a real blow to your self-esteem, especially considering I was in my 50s and quite old to be doing a job search.

“I literally lay in bed one day and said to the Lord, I shouted: ‘I don’t want to do this any more’. My blessing came shortly after that. I have a very supportive church family and there was one woman in the congregation who heard about the position I was in and she called me up to tell me about a job and encouraged me to fill out an application form.”

Long story short — the Bermuda Credit Association was hiring and she got the job.

Going through such trials and seeing God pull her through added a new dimension to her faith.

Now the lyrics she sings about God’s love and faithfulness have greater meaning for her.

“While I was unemployed I had to learn to really trust God; to depend on Him literally for everything,” she said. “But even in the midst of that I still sang.

“I sang to encourage myself and lift my spirits and when I was done, I would feel refreshed like I could get back in this thing and move forward.

“We don’t always have people around us to encourage us, but for me singing is a joy and lifts my spirits and I pray people who hear me get the same thing.”

Ms Robinson will next perform tomorrow night at Hott 107.5’s free Christmas concert.

The event, which kicks off at Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts at 6.30pm, will include gospel reggae artist Septimus and singers Larrita Adderley, Samantha Smith, Vance Goater and Jessie Seymour and Brothers Band. The Vernon Temple AME Praise Team and Restoration Seventh-day Adventist Praise Team will also take to the stage.

The 57-year-old hopes the concert will restore people’s hope.

“We see it every day — people are struggling, families are still broken, people are losing their loved ones and Bermuda seems really dark right now,” she said.

“I pray this event will kindle a spirit of the Christmas season in folks and they can be in an atmosphere where they hear some excellent singing, but that the focus for just a short time will be on the reason for the season, which is Jesus.

“He was born and came to deliver us, give us healing and save us — that’s a wonderful gift. We are going to share Jesus with the audience and I pray they receive everything that Jesus offers and leave feeling lifted and encouraged. Even though it’s dark right now, there is always light.”

Ms Robinson started singing at Angle Street Church of God at age 13. She joined the youth choir and then the senior choir before becoming a soloist while in her early 20s.

American gospel singer Sandi Patty inspired her to continue although she didn’t see music as her spiritual gift until she got a little more grounded in her faith.

“Her songs fit my voice perfectly — from her style to her enunciation and technical ability. There were people at my church who would literally share that with me and say, ‘Toni, this is a gift’. I always loved singing, but didn’t realise until later on it wasn’t just about ability. It’s about what your singing elicits, the response from the audience. People are encouraged, blessed and lifted and that’s the thing that keeps me grounded — the fact this gift I have is from God and my aim is to use it to His honour and glory, and also so that it might bring blessings to anyone who hears.”