You Were Created For Such a Time As This

I love, love, love the book of Esther! Esther was such a brave woman. Willing to be used of God. Making wise choices. Choosing to do the right thing in the bold face of opposition. May this be said of all of us, brave, willing, wise and choosing to do the right thing at the right time. For such a time as this.

My favorite verse in the book of Esther is found in chapter four.

"For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14

This particular verse reminds me that God doesn't need me to accomplish His purpose. His will and His plan will be brought to fruition with or without my help. But oh! To be part of that wonderful plan!

To allow His will to direct my choices. To make His purpose my purpose. ​If you're not familiar with the story of Esther, Esther is the Jewish queen of the Persian king Ahasuerus, chosen for her great beauty. She's a heroine and a shining example of what a woman, willing to be used of God, can accomplish for His kingdom. ​

The king's advisor, Haman, was offended by Esther's cousin, Mordecai. Haman seeks permission from the king to have all the Jews in the kingdom annihilated. And he gets that permission. Esther, on the other hand, being willing to be used of God and not to be silent, is their salvation. The king loved and respected Esther, and he listened to her plea. Instead of her people the Jews being killed, Haman their enemy is put to death. Ironically, he lost his life on a gallows he built for Mordecai. ​Esther was created for such a time as this. And so were you! You were created for this time, for this life. Created by God to be used for His purpose. He has a purpose for your story.

10 Lessons we can learn from Esther:

1. ​God uses ordinary people like you and me.
2. His purpose will be accomplished with or without us.
3. Esther knew her strength and courage was not enough.
4. She knew her help would ultimately come from God.
5. Her beauty did not make her proud.
6. Her situation did not make her bitter.
7. She valued her people over her own life.
8. Ultimately, God controls the hearts of our leaders.
9. Esther has influenced and empowered generations of women.
10. YOU and I were created for such a time as this!

Ever wonder what you're called to do? What are we here for? What is our purpose? To find the answers to those questions, checkout To This You Were Called. It's a really brief read from 1 Peter 3:8-12. Peter lays our calling out clearly in this passage, and as Craig Groeschel says in this quote:

"You don't have to understand the plan to trust that God has a purpose." —Craig Groeschel

You might not understand His plan today but as Peter writes, being called to "unity, sympathy, love, tender hearts, humble minds" is without a doubt part of it.

I love these 10 lessons we can learn from Esther. ​Numbers 1, 9, and 10 are most meaningful to me. God uses ordinary people like you and I. Esther has influenced and empowered generations of women. You and I were created for such a time as this! Which ones speak to you?