Heavy is the Crown
Esther 4:14
…”And who knoweth whether thou art come to the Kingdom for such a time as this?”
Courageous Esther
Risking everything for God’s purpose…
As we continue the story of Esther and how she saved an entire nation from being destroyed, we see the amount of courage it took for her to approach the King on that fateful day. This was not an easy task as it would seem, due to the strict rules during that era and when and how a woman should present herself in many situations.
It sounds strange to think that even though Esther’s husband was the King, she was not allowed to speak to him without his permission, especially in the inner courts where he resided on his throne. But her nature was gentle and kind and while she knew the Royal protocol, she also understood that she had a purpose from God, and that any uncertainty or fear she might have had, she must have the courage to approach him and fulfill that purpose.
As she stood out in the court, she waited for the King to notice, and this became “her” moment to draw near and make her requests known; to save the beloved Jews from Haman who wanted to wipe out the entire nation. It was due to her humility and strength that pleased the King, and he granted her request without hesitation.
Will this work out?
I’m afraid to make the next move…
When we look back at our own lives, we see the circumstances when we too had to summon up the courage to do something we were afraid to do. Uncertainty can be a great fear and as we know, fear can be an “illusion” in the beginning, but once conquered, it isn’t as dreadful as we originally thought. God seems to pull us into uncertain situations at times, and we must lean on Him for strength.
He always knows the beginning from the end, so we must trust Him, no matter how hard it seems. Most of the time, we cannot see the outcome, neither did Esther, but we must press forward to the task that has been presented to us. Just as she did. Fear or no fear.
Life has its ups and downs and many times we feel as if we have it all figured out…..but then God changes everything. We have all experienced loss and hardships and during those moments, we feel abandoned and misunderstood. Esther must have felt the same feelings while she stood patiently waiting for the King to notice her and then finally make a request to him; which was completely un-heard of then. Would he condemn or punish her? I’m sure that all of those fearful thoughts flooded her mind. But just as God loves us unconditionally, the King loved her as well and her requests were granted.
Too many decisions
Is it left or right…
Have you ever been standing at a cross-road in your life with extreme heaviness in your heart, not knowing what to do, except pray through your tears and/or frustration? We all have, believe me. And in the end, God was standing with you the entire time listening and guiding you through it all. Remember, that if God ordained it, He will get you through it. That’s a huge statement. It takes Warriors to fight the good fight of Faith and not everyone can achieve what God requires.
He isn’t taking anything away from us, He is making us better people and developing our characters. That is why the road to Heaven is very narrow and the road to Hell is very wide. Many people don’t want to change their lives for Jesus and live His way and follow the word (the Bible); they only want what the world has to offer and all of its temptations.
They cannot see the destruction that lies ahead. It is always better to suffer persecution in this life, to ultimately inherit the Kingdom and spend Eternity with Jesus. There is no greater reward than that and this world can give you nothing in comparison.
Make a difference
Jesus will hold your hand…
Stay strong dear ones, never stop looking forward to the things that God has planned for you. Spend time with Him, read His word, learn and grow while developing a relationship with Him. What we do today, can have a huge impact on the future.
We never know when God is going to call us to a higher purpose, just like He did with Esther. She was a great example of a Proverbs 31 woman, trusting God in everything she did. We too can strive to be that example as well, for our lives and for others around us.
Be encouraged and seek joy in all that you do, even when the darkness seems to surround us on every side and there is nowhere to go. Jesus is the Good Shepherd and He will never let go of our hands; He will not let us fall; He will leave the flock and find you if you are lost. He loves us that much!
“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”