Daily Delight
Do you remember when Mordecai tells Esther “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place…” (Esther 4:14a NIV)? God is offering her a singular opportunity, but victory never rests in her hands. However Esther chooses to respond, God’s agenda would move forward. We don’t fulfill God’s plans or foil them; we can simply fulfill or foil our role within God’s plans. Each of us has a unique, God-given role He has devised just for us. We can embrace this role and respond with a “Yes and Amen” at His every call or we can remain servants of ourselves. But with or without us, the plans of our Lord will be accomplished.We balance two truths: on the one hand, we are image-bearers of the King, the crown of creation, ones God loves above all else! On the other hand, God doesn’t need us. He can always use someone else or even call upon a few rocks to do the jobs He asks of us. There is room for pride in being a divine instrument as well as humility in not providing the breath to play the instrument ourselves.So why ask us to get involved at all? He isn’t trying to use us to build His kingdom; He’s trying to build His kingdom in us. Let’s look back at Esther. Yes, God loves His people and is arranging for their delivery on an immense scale, but He is also attentive to His relationship with Esther and to her character. He gives her the chance to trust Him as never before – with her life and the lives of her people – because God’s protection and favor would forever change her.The next time you quiet yourself to hear the still, small voice, be expectant that God will bring forth His Kingdom, but don’t be surprised if it’s because of the refinement process happening within you.
About the Author
Jessica Hendrick
Jessica lives in Chesapeake, VA with her husband, Bryan, and their two young children, Jack & Jane. Never in a million years would she have thought after getting her Masters in Counseling and studying Biofeedback that she would forego job applications and become a stay-at-home mom, but God revealed the true desire of her heart that year.