“Who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14

Have you ever asked, “Why me?” when someone asked you to do something, or when something tragic happened to you? Queen Esther may have felt that way when she was taken (more like trafficked) to the palace and subjected to participating in a beauty pageant. She’s then forced to be the trophy wife of a foolish king.

Perhaps she asked it again when her cousin Mordecai suggested that she could use her position to stop the annihilation of her people. From Mordecai’s perspective, he figured that no one else among the Jews had such access to the king. But from her perspective, she could have said, “Why me?” since she knew it could lead to her death. But knowing what she needed to do (and believing that she was in this position for this very moment), she asked all her people to fast for three days and nights, praying for deliverance.

When Esther walked into the king’s throne room, she was wrapped not just in a beautiful robe, but also in the prayers of God’s people. It wasn’t just the king in that room; God was there too. And that gave her the ability to stand even if her life was on the line!

It’s a good reminder for us that God is always with us, preparing places, opportunities, choices, and options ahead of us. We have a God who cares and who is in control of the big (and little) things. That means that we can thank God each morning for His faithfulness to carry us through each day.

As we unpack this beautiful story together this week, I pray that God reminds us of His sovereignty and providence – and in so doing, it gives us the courage to stand. I look forward to seeing you in person or online. (However, if you are regularly attending online and are able-bodied, I would strongly encourage you to gather with your church family face to face.)

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Aaron