For Such a Time as This

 Do you ever wonder why you are where you are in life? For me this was my single years. Do circumstances seem out of control? I have been there too. Do you wonder where God is or what he has planned in this time? One thing that helped me through these times was the story of Esther.

What can we learn from Esther?

Esther is an orphan who is raised by her family relative Mordecai, she is taken away from her home to potentially become the queen of a king who is known for his temper. After she becomes queen, her life and the lives of her people, the jews, are threatened by an evil man named Haman. Talk about circumstances being out of control! Yet in the midst of all this, God has a plan. Esther trusts God to carry out that plan.

If you are not familiar with the story of Esther I would encourage you to grab a Bible and read it. It truly is an amazing story. Here are a couple of lessons we can learn from Esther.

 

God sees the big picture even when we can not see it

The first lesson we learn is that God sees the big picture. All throughout the book of Esther, we can see God’s hand but it is not until the end of the story that we see His full plan. For Esther, there are times that are probably pretty scary! Especially, when Mordecai asked her to go before the king to plead for the life of her people which could cost her life (Esther 4:11). Mordecai tells Esther in Esther 4:14

“For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

The Jews are God’s chosen people and Mordecai trusts that God will take care of them. He also sees God’s hand in Esther becoming queen. I have been in some hard places where everything felt like it was out of control but I learned that God had a plan and He sees the big picture that I cannot always see.  

 

Trust in God’s plan

After we learn that God sees the big picture we have to trust Him. Mordecai asks Esther to trust in God. In response, Esther requests that Mordecai gather the Jews and hold a fast before she goes before the king. Esther and her maids also fast (Esther 4:16)

Esther then goes before the king. Faith is taking action. It is knocking on doors of opportunity God gives. If Esther had not gone before the king her story would have ended differently. However, because of her faith, she and her people were saved. In our life, we need to be like Esther and have the courage to step out in faith. Even when it is hard. And trust that God will take care of us.

Watch God work

Esther acted on her faith and God took care of the rest. God makes the same promise to us today. One of my favorite Bible verses is Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

God has great plans for us. So wherever you are in life. I hope you can find hope from the story of Esther in knowing that God has a plan and He sees the big picture, To put your trust in God, and to watch God work.

“God may have you where you are for such a time as this!” (click to tweet)