For Such a Time as This

Several months ago, I wrote about Queen Esther in “Hey, You Were Made for Such a Time for This!” The book of Esther is known as the most “godless” book of the Bible because the name of God is not mentioned in the story. But don’t let that concern you–God is very present in the story of Esther.

The crisis in the story is that it’s up to Esther to save her people (the Jews), and she can only do that by asking her husband, King Xerxes, for help. But if she approaches the king and he does not. hold out his golden scepter, she will be put to death.  

When she speaks of her fear to her cousin Mordecai, he advises:

“…if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.” (Esther 4:13-14)

Spoiler alert: Esther approaches the king, he holds out his scepter, and the story has a happy ending.

For just such a time as this. Let’s think about that for a moment. Are you worried about your job? Your spouse? Your bank account? Your church? Your parents? The list is endless.

Alex Cravens, a dad/blogger/youth pastor from Russellville, Illinois, worries about the world that his children live in. Because his thoughts on the subject are so profound, and because his worries mirror Esther’s situation, I’m going to include one of his posts in its entirety:

“Don’t feel sorry for or fear for your kids because the world they are going to grow up in is not what it used to be.

God created them and called them for the exact moment in time that they’re in. Their life wasn’t a coincidence or an accident.

Raise them up to know the power they walk in as children of God.

Train them up in the authority of His Word.

Teach them to walk in faith knowing that God is in control.

Empower them to know they can change the world.

Don’t teach them to be fearful and disheartened by the state of the world but hopeful that they can do something about it.

Every person in all of history has been placed in the time that they were in because of God’s sovereign plan.

He knew Daniel could handle the lions’ den.
He knew David could handle Goliath.
He knew Esther could handle Haman.
He knew Peter could handle persecution.
He knows that your children can handle whatever challenge they face in their lives. He created them specifically for it!

Don’t be scared for your children, but be honored that God chose you to parent the generation that is facing the biggest challenges of our lifetime. Rise up to the challenge.

Raise Daniels, Davids, Esthers, and Peters!

God isn’t scratching His head wondering what He’s going to do with this mess of a world.

He has an army He’s raising up to drive back the darkness and make Him known all over the earth.

Don’t let your fear steal the greatness God placed in them [your children]. I know it’s hard to imagine them as anything besides our sweet little babies, and we just want to protect them from anything that could ever be hard on them, but they were made for such a time as this.”

God’s hand is present in our lives, too. Even when we doubt God, or even if we don’t believe in God, He believes in us. Read that again. He believes in us. He believes in you.

You need the courage of Esther. Maybe there’s a conversation that you need to have with someone. It’s unlikely that the penalty is death, but perhaps you’ll have to risk your dignity or a friendship. 

Maybe there’s a job that you want, but the threat of failure is overwhelming.

Maybe God is calling you to be the hands and feet of Jesus, but you just don’t think you’re up to the task.

God has a plan for your life, even if you don’t believe in Him.

Have you considered the fact that God has placed you where you are for a reason? It’s not an accident that you do what you do. It’s not an accident that you live where you live. It’s not an accident that you are who you are. 

God loves you–He’s holding out his golden sceptre to you. After all, He placed you here for just such a time as this!