Esther 4:12 NIV “ …And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”
Esther, although sometimes dismissed as a fanciful story because of the many coincidences is an archaeologically proven part of Persian history.
In this account of Queen Esther’s life, she encountered loss, was raised by a cousin, Mordecai, and was tasked with putting herself at great risk by revealing herself as a Jew at a time when they were being exterminated by an arm of her husband’s reign.
To save her people, she had to summon all of her courage. She was in the right place at the right time. There is no denying though, it would have been easier to not say anything and live the easy life as the King’s concubine.
I would say to you this week that we are all Esther’s. Her life was not easy. There are many instances in the Bible where we find Christians have nothing short of terrifying lives, let’s think about it: Daniel in the lion's den (Daniel 6:22); Jonah in the Belly of the Whale (Jonah 1 & 2); Job and his many afflictions (Entire book of Job).
I could go on, but the next time you question, ‘Why me, Lord,” I would ask, “Why not, you?” God did not promise us an easy passage. What He does promise us is protection, like Esther, Daniel, Jonah & Job through the rough times.
In addition, if you were to look up the names of all twelve apostles, who lay down all their worldly goods to help Christ spread the good word, they died horrid deaths! Again, who are we to tremble when a bit of misfortune comes our way? God will see us through it. He is our ever-present guardian and protector, but there is more!
God is using you and your plight! Those near you are watching and learning. You are your neighbor's Bible. He reads you every day. Those who may never open our Holy Book depend upon your role model to teach them.
This was brought home to me about two years ago. I was an abused wife my first marriage. I thought I owed it to God to stay in the marriage and turn my husband’s heart towards him. I prayed. I was the best wife I could be, but things got worse, and I became pregnant with our first child.
He became addicted to drugs and more violent, entangled in a motorcycle club. I had suffered broken bones and during a welfare check, a community nurse told me that eventually, he would beat my child. Looking at her innocence, I knew what I had to do.
In the dark of the night, I packed a bag and left on a bus to travel across the country to my sister’s house. My anguish did not end there. Once there, I found I was 3 months pregnant with twins. Three months later, I lost them. I cried all the time.
I loved my husband and felt I had just failed him, failed God, failed my family. One night my dad came to me crying to tell me there wasn’t any man worth crying about night and day – and I owed it to my daughter to get up and straighten up. So, I did.
I won’t lie, some days were dark. God and my little girl’s needs pulled me out of bed more days than I care to admit.
Many decades later, I received a phone call out of the blue. It was my (ex)husband. It was a phone call I both needed and dreaded. We cleared many things up. He was dying of cancer, and through his tears, he admitted to me that he was very scared.
Amazingly, he said one of the things he always admired about me was that I was never afraid of anything. Also, I always seemed at peace. I will bet you know why that is. I had God on my side. I knew I was protected.
I always asked myself, “What is the worse thing that could happen?” Most people would say: Death. Well, death is not a problem for me. I have eternal life through Christ. This gives me peace.
This allows me to take my earthly problems one at a time calmly. You too can have this peace.
I also want you to understand that like Esther, you were born for such a time as this.
What is your purpose for today?
