by Danielle Mahlstedt
Esther 7:3
3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request.
Heart racing. Sweaty palms. Heat rising through her body til it drips down her face.
She slowly brings a glass of water to her lips in hopes that it will refresh her dry throat and wash away the decision she’s faced with.
“Go to the King and beg for mercy, Esther.”
The words of Mordecai replayed in her mind. Mordecai was the man who raised her and the thought of him being troubled, pained her deeply. And, the thought of the Jews, her people, being killed nearly broke her heart.
“But, I haven’t been summoned by the king. If I go to him with this request, I’ll be killed.”
Have you ever felt like God was calling you to do something that was just too risky? Too difficult? Too stressful? Can you relate to Esther?
The Lord took Esther and raised her up to Queenship by giving her divine favor with the king. But He then called her to save the Jewish people by risking her life. And in an instant she faced the most difficult decision of her life.
“who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
I think we are quick to forget that though Our Lord loves blessing us, He also loves to see His divine work being done through us and that usually requires us to step out of our comfort zone. And like in Esthers situation, overcome fear and keep faith.
The man who cared for her as his own child asked her to push through her fear to do what is right. And though her head said “you could die.”
Her heart said “you are their only hope.”
“When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
If we read the whole story, we find that The Lord, again, gave Esther favor and the Jewish people were saved.
The Lord wants to use you. And like Esther, He is going to ask you to surrender your fears and leave the comfort of complacency. When you do, He will amaze you with His sovereignty and reward you with a deepened faith and the sweet tangibility of His nearness.
Lord,
Use me Father. Though in myself I am weak, make me strong. Make me brave. I want to experience your greatness through a deepened faith.
In Your Holy Name,
Amen
