Hey guys! Just a quick reminder that the GIVEWAY for the “for such a time as this” art piece ends the last day of April which at the time of this recording is THIS FRIDAY!

This giveaway is in connection to the message in Esther 4:14 that I believe is a message for each and everyone of us. If you haven’t had a chance to listen to the previous episode , then go back and listen to that because it gives some background around this important thought.

And the other reason for the Giveaway is to celebrate 10 years of susanbeth.com.  When we got the annual renewal notice a few months ago for the domain and it said something about 10 years I was like wow! So many things have come out of taking that step to create a space for at that time a blog. And so many other things have come out of that.  Some things have continued and moved through several iterations of an idea and passion. Others things held a purpose for a season or I realized it was a wrong exit for me either at that time or forever…

But when I was thinking about it I had the thought that maybe someone listening needs to hear…

We don’t always and actually I think it’s more accurate to say we rarely see the whole picture of what we are walking out. And we can get so focused on our “purpose” which you know I talk alot about! That we can hold back on living our purpose out because we are waiting for and looking for this huge big purpose to land in front of us that we pick up and move forward on and I don’t think it works that way…

I think we take the one step of obedience we see in front of us and that is us walking in our purpose. That step will lead us to the next step. But you have to take a step. 

If you are listening to this and there are things that you have been thinking about a while maybe even YEARS but you keep waiting for clarity or doors to open to give you a sign that you are on the right path...unfortunately you will continue to hold on to those things. 

This life we are all living is a life of faith. Faith in the one who created it all...faith that there is purpose in everything that is...and faith that he is speaking to us and leading us ...as much as we will allow him too.

I’ll stop there ...this was supposed to be about the GIVEAWAY haha

But seriously I am choosing to stop and celebrate that step of faith 10 years ago believing that it represents continued steps of faith for me and for all of us in all that is to come. You can find the GIVEAWAY details in the show notes and someone is going to win this wall art so it might as well be you!!

I really am so, so grateful that I have the opportunity to share and speak into your life in some way. God never ceases to amaze me when I have thoughts of just keeping “all of the thoughts and scribbles tucked away in my art journals and notebooks” that I will receive an email or a DM on Instagram from one of you sharing how what I put out there spoke to you. 

Which always reminds me once again that it’s not all about me...my obedience affects others.

And so does yours my friend...so let’s jump into todays episode…

I wanted to continue with some takeaways from this story of Esther that I shared from in the last episode…

There were several things that jumped out at me from this story in the book of Esther that I believe are helpful to us as well in living out the plans and purposes God has for our lives.

1. The first thing that stood out to me is the circumstances and experiences of Esther’s life (that in reality were hard and heartbreaking)  those things didn’t disqualify her...they prepared her.

You see Esther was living in Persia after her family had been exiled after Israel had been conquered by Nebuchnezzar of Babylon, who then had been conquered by the Persian Empire. She then found herself orphaned after both of her parents died and was taken in by an older cousin who raised her as his daughter. 

Even though at some point some of the Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem, Esther’s family was among a group that decided to remain in Persia.  

And Even though she was raised to keep the Jewish laws and traditions her cousin Mordecai that she was being raised by had advised her to keep her Jewish identity a secret .

In Esther 2:8 we find Esther being taken to the King’s palace after the king put out a decree and command to gather young girls because he was in need of new queen since he banished the previous queen when she refused to show herself when he requested her presence among a group of his guests. You can read more about that in Esther 1.

When I think of Esther suddenly in this situation I can imagine she could be fearful as the king has obviously been known to become angry and put people away. 

Another thing that comes to my mind is a common phrase that is thrown around a lot these days of having “imposter syndrome” I started to explain what it means in my own words and then thought why not just google it and look it up... 

“the persistent inability to believe that one's success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one's own efforts or skills.”

If anyone had a reason to struggle with feeling like an imposter I’m thinking Esther had every good reason…

Here she is ultimately chosen into an even smaller circle of women to be chosen by the king...all the while knowing her true identity is not known by those around her.

Esther the Jewish orphan girl...with all odds against her..

 finding favor to eventually becoming the next queen.

You see Esther’s background didn’t determine her future …

Do you struggle with thinking God can’t work with your past or the circumstances of your life?

Your lack of training? Relationship or financial failures? Or maybe you struggle with feeling so insignificant. Like what do you have to offer to anything or anyone?

Which those questions lead me to the next thing that stood out to me...

2. Esther was willing to step in the unknown...to step out in obedience without having all the details of how things were going to play out.

She chose to trust and look to her God to lead her.

One of the notes in my Bible said “the holy spirit directed and energized Esther” to fast for her nation and to call her people to do the same.

I love that “the holy spirit directed and energized” 

Ya’ll he’s still doing that today!!!

I love these verse in Romans 8

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

When you and I don’t even know how we should pray we can trust the Holy spirit to pray through us. 

We don’t see our lives and circumstances through the same lens that the God of the universe does.

When we will surrender and allow him too He uses all of our experiences…. and positions us and gives us divine opportunities to influence culture for His kingdom.

And these positions and divine opportunities are not for selfish recognition or our personal gain. But they are favor to fulfill God’s purpose in the earth.

To walk in this favor and responsibility lead me to the last point.

3. Esther feared God more than man

After Esther was chosen to be queen, her cousin Modecai learns of the plot by one of the kings top officials which is to kill off all the Jews in the kingdom because they did not live by the Kings rules.

So Mordecai comes to Esther with a request for her to go to the King and ask for her people lives to be spared.

Reminder: her Jewish identity had been hidden. And this secret coming out could literally cost her her life. Even as queen she only went before the king when he requested her presence.

The choice Esther would be faced with in this moment became a defining moment for her. Would she ignore the reality of the call and her true identity

Would she chose the comfort of the life she now knew or reveal her Jewish roots and step into who she really was…

I can only imagine how this conversation and question from Mordecai rocked her …

when he reminded her of her true identity and asked if perhaps she had come to the kingdom and been made queen for such a time as this

What made Esther in that moment make the hardest decision she would ever make?

I believe it’s what we each have access to... the overwhelming sense deep down inside of us that even when we are so stinking scared and have no idea how something is going to turn out we can say like Esther did…

“I will go before the King and if I perish I perish…”

You can seemingly have it all in life yet true fulfillment and peace only comes from a place of full surrender to the purposes of God.

It’s amazing how in the darkest times of uncertainty the boldness of the spirit of God can rise up within us and the opinions of man are meaningless.

It’s in those moment of complete surrender and trust you see clearly that obedience to God is everything.

I want to end with some questions around these 3 things that I believe are so tied to you and i walking out the plans and purposes of God in our life.

Question 1. Take a few minutes to think about and write out: in what ways you are allowing your past to hold you back and keeping you from believing God can work all things together for your good? Write out what comes to your mind.  Recognize it , give it to God let it go.

2. What are some areas  you feel God is leading or asking you step out in that fear is holding you back? Write down you answer.

3. Where in your life do you see you are fearing the opinions of man over what God is asking of you? Write it out...

I’m going to close in prayer and don’t forget to check out the info the give away in the show notes…

Father thank you for your faithfulness to us.

You are such a loving caring father and friend...that even when we feel exiled and orphaned in our lives...you are near.

Thank you for the power of the spirit that empowers us and leads us. I thank you that even know in these moments holy spirt is at working stirring up those desires and purposes placed with in us.

May we look to you over any opinion of those around us…

You are our eternal hope and peace 

And we are looking to you… always.