For Such a Time as This
By Emma Danzey
Esther 4:14 says, “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?””
If You Remain Silent
One of the greatest ways in which the enemy works is to get us to be silent. If we are quiet in our faith, struggles, and lives, the Lord cannot use us. This is certainly not to say if someone is mute that, God cannot use them, for there are many ways to communicate the gospel. However, when we know the truth of Christ and refrain from sharing that with others, it is wrong. When we know the hope of Jesus and that we are His children but try to hide out of fear, we are called to let our lights shine before all people. (Matthew 5:16) We are told not to be ashamed of the gospel. (Romans 1:16)
In what ways do you feel tempted to be silent about your faith? It can be easy, without realizing it, to hide the most important part of our lives around others in certain settings or around relatives who have not been receptive. However, just like Queen Esther was truly a Jew in a royal position, her rank would not save her from the annihilation of the Jewish people by the evil Haman. She was the Jew’s hope to go directly to the King on their behalf. This came at a great cost, and she had to be willing to choose God over her own life. There was a great possibility that she would be killed; however, the Lord was working in her midst.
Relief and Deliverance for the Jews Will Arise from Another Place
This is a hard statement, but Mordecai (Esther’s uncle) shares the truth that if Esther did not speak up, it did not mean that she would be spared. He shares the convicting truth that God would raise up someone else for their deliverance and that her silence would not save her and her loved ones.
Has God ever invited you to lead or be part of something, and you turned it down? The sad part is that when we do this, the Lord is still going to work, but we miss out on the opportunity to be involved in His kingdom work. He has given us an invitation, but we have to decide if we will join in. Will we be bold and confident, walking in the Spirit? Or will we run away in fear and always be passing on positions and opportunities to others?
For Such a Time as This
Have you ever thought about how you are called to reach this generation? You and I have been born in the year chosen by God, and our timelines are intentional for His purposes. The fact is that if we are alive today, the Lord has a plan for us to share His gospel message for such a time as this. That means even in times of war, times of identity confusion, times of division, times of social media, and times of anxiety and depression, if we are here, God desires to use us.
Have you ever had a perfect moment at the perfect time? An experience where things just happened to work out right when they needed it? The Lord has beautifully orchestrated this exact period of time to use you and to use me for His glory. We are invited to not remain silent, but to speak of His love and salvation, to say yes to His call, and to remember that He is with us even in the most uncertain of times.
Intersecting Faith and Life:
How have you remained silent in your faith before? What are ways in which you can be braver to share the hope that you have with others? In what ways do you feel like God has put you where you are for such a time as this?
Further Reading:
Matthew 5:16
Romans 1:16
2 Peter 1:3
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Maksim Labkousk
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