She Reads Truth has been such a
blessing to my spiritual life the past few months. The way these women writers
dig into Scripture to reveal truths and share them with myself and others
across the globe is so encouraging. If you haven’t checked them out, I highly
suggest it. This month they did a study on Esther that hasn’t been a
disappointment. With getting back into the swing of school and life, the time I
take each day to meet with my Father and read their posts has been something I
have cherished each day.
God revealed several things to me through
this Esther study, and for me to process them and try to live in them daily, I
thought I would blog about them. Before this study I knew the gist of the story
of Esther, but I had never read through the entire book or took time to see
God’s hand in everything that happens. Some of these thoughts are taken from
posts themselves {if so I will link them to that specific post}, but most are
thoughts God has placed on my heart as I have dug deep into His Word.
I have memorized 2 Timothy 3:16-17
several times in my life.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is
useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so
that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
I have known this truth, but it wasn’t
until I studied Esther, where God’s name is never even mentioned, that it
became real to me. So many times I feel like I come to Scripture expecting God
to teach me something general, when most of the time I should looking at it
differently. Scripture is about God, about His love, about His holiness, about
His goodness.
2. Vengeance is God’s, not mine
“Do not be overcome by evil, but
overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21
With all the evil in this world, it’s
hard not to want to take matters into my own hands. It’s hard to just sit back
and watch my brothers and sisters be treated horribly. But what can a
21-year-old college student from Tennessee do? I can pray. I can be bold in my
faith. In Esther 3, Haman, a royal official to King Xerxes, plotted to destroy
the Jews because Mordecai refused to bow to him. Haman manipulated the king
into agreeing to this decree to wipe out the Jews from the land. During all
this, Mordecai continued to worship God. He didn’t seek to stop Haman, but
trusted his Lord was in control and would take care of His people. Debbie Eaton
wrote on her post, “God’s promises give us the hope to get up off the
couch, get on our knees and pray, to believe God can work through us to spread
His gospel of grace and peace to a prideful, hurting world.” I want to have a
heart like Mordecai’s that is unwavering in faith in our God, who will bring justice
in His timing.
3. God trusts me
“And who knows whether you have not
come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14b
Mordecai knows Haman’s plan and he
also knows Esther’s position and the pull she has with the king. He persuaded
Esther to use her voice to save her people. Esther 4:14 is Mordecai giving
wisdom to Esther. It is also God giving direction to us. We each have our own
kingdoms that God has placed us in. If we have received His gift of salvation,
He expects us to proclaim His gospel. He trusts us. He trusts me to carry out
His Word. That is a huge responsibility. I want to fully fulfill my duties for
His Kingdom.
4. God’s voice is the loudest in the quiet
“Be still before the Lord and wait
patiently for him.” Psalm 37:7
Through Esther’s help, Mordecai is
finally honored for all he did. He wasn’t forgotten. God didn’t forget Mordecai’s
faithfulness. God ties up the loose ends of Esther. I have loose ends too. I
don’t know my future, but I want to. Just as Xerxes couldn’t sleep late at
night, I stay up occasionally pondering what God has planned. I have to
remember though, sitting back and thinking about it, isn’t what God wants me to
do. He wants me to give my desires to Him. To seek Him in the quiet times. To
boldly approach His throne. When I am quiet and listening, He speaks.
5. Crying is okay
“Esther again pleaded with the king,
falling at his feet and weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan
of Haman the Agagite…” Esther 8:3
Esther's heart was hurting for her
people and she expressed herself with the shedding of tears. Jesus’s heart was
hurting because of the death of Lazarus and he expressed his emotion through
tears. God has given me a heart that expresses itself through tears. Droplets
of my feelings frequently pour out of my eyes and I still try to hide them.
Slowly God is showing me it’s okay for me to express myself through tears. For
Esther, “Freedom came at the cost of her tears.” (Annie Downs)
May I remember all that God has taught
me these past 2 weeks. May I strive to be my best for my Father. May I decrease
my desires and increase His will in my life.
Blessings,
Chelsea
