I’m no Jewish queen. And I have no people to save from the hand of death. But I still resonate with the words Mordecai spoke to Esther all those years ago, when God entrusted her with a great and terrifying task.
“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place….And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”
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For such a time as this.
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Those words hold such power. Such meaning. They bring such a sense of purpose to my helter-skelter existence. Sure, the Bible wasn’t written to me, but it was written for me. For all of us. And so were the words of Mordecai.
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As a writer, I plunk my characters into a specific setting. Into a specific time and place. I don’t choose randomly. I consider my character – her strengths, her weaknesses, the gifts I’ve given her. I consider what I want to accomplish through my character. Then I choose accordingly. I choose the perfect time, the perfect place, the perfect circumstances and set my character down. My choices are far from random. Far from accidental. They are very strategic.
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And I’m just a writer.
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Now imagine God, the Author of our souls, who penned the universe and all who inhabit it. God knows us better than any writer could know his characters. He’s fashioned us. He’s considered our uniqueness. Considered what He wants to accomplish through us. And He chooses accordingly. Strategically.
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I’m not living in the 21st century, in Eastern Iowa, going to a particular church, living with a particular man, raising a particular son, teaching a particular group of students, and writing particular stories….all by random chance. God knows. He’s placed me here. In this setting. On purpose.
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And I hear Mordecai whisper those words. “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverence will arise from another….” I can say yes and experience the wonder of being used by an almighty God, or I can say no and miss out. The wonder can fall to another.
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Sometimes I say no. Not intentionally. Not rebelliously. But I say no. I turn a deaf ear to God and let the megaphone of discontentment blare in my ears. Why can’t we have enough money so I can stay home? So-and-so gets to stay home with her kids. Man, my life would be so much easier if I could just stay home. Or, why can’t I be published already? So-and-so is published. I bet life would be easier if I were published.
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Satan speaks to our discontentment. He fires the flame into something greater. Something insidious. Until we forget God has us exactly where He has us for a reason. For a purpose. For such a time as this.
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Questions to Ponder: What setting are you living in? Where does God have you? What might His purpose be for having you there?
I really believe God is going to give you the desires of your heart, Katie. I'm praying for a sale and an advance that will enable you to stay home. 🙂
work at home in india
Wow…what a beautiful way to look at it. Thanks!
This is a great post, Katie. It makes me think of the Unseen Hand. It isn't always easy to stop and listen. I'll have to be more conscious of my setting as I finish my day.
God has me spending most of my free time with my best friend, Peaches; he has me in school, although I nearly begged Him to death to somehow take me out last year; He has me working a dream job (well, a dream job for a college student, anyway). I'm not sure why I'm here, though, in this setting, and not somewhere else. I often daydream of quitting school, picking up, and placing myself at the beach working full time and writing every chance I get. But I don't know what I would actually be accomplishing doing that. I'd be without my best friend, which would be a nightmare and a half. I'd struggle to pay my bills. I'd be lonely. So, it's a good thing God's in control and not me. I don't know why I'm in this setting, but I'd rather be in His than in mine.
I love love love Esther. Thanks so much for this post. What a great analogy!
Gosh Katie. What wise words!!! This is an amazing post! I want to copy it and paste it on my mirror. So true and so comforting! LOVE IT!!!!!!
Thank you.
Oh, my! I am facilitating the Beth Moore Esther study at our church so you have given my chill bumps! With God there are no coincidences.
Hmmm. I'm a Southern transplant thriving quite well in the Midwest town of Normal, Illinois. God has picked up a shattered life and is using it in ways I never imagined. Yesterday I interviewed a woman who was mired in stuff you'd never believe and who also has a God story. So…I'm right where God has put me and have learned to be joyous about it.
Love your blog and this post.
Powerful post! Thanks for giving me some things to think about!
resonated with me, katie girl. i have to remember i am where i am because God brought me to this place. he also brought this place to me…again! thanks for this post!
Wow. If you wonder about the power of this post, just read and re-read this comment thread. Like the others before me, this really touched me today. It hit me in my deepest places, those that needed to hear it most. Thanks, Katie. 🙂
Wow, I feel as if I was standing out in a shower of blessing just reading this post.
God has me in this place, a wife, mother, teacher, bookkeeper, writer…all roles He created for me.
Dead humbling.
Aaah, so true. Love you.
Great. This speaks to me. I think those same thoughts. Once upon a time I yearned to stay at home with my kids. I prayed for seven straight years until finally he gave me my hearts desire, then he multiplied it and blessed me with a daughter to go with my three sons. Again, I've been waiting for representation for twelve long years and not a day goes by that I don't ask. (I had it once, I'd like it again.) It certainly is a time of frustration for me. This post is just what I needed to hear. Thank you Katie!
Oh, Katie, I felt like you wrote that for me. Thank you for this. It's nice to know I'm not alone in the questins I have for God. No one said obedience would be easy, did they?
This post is full of great stuff. I think I'll star it for another read later.
Oh yes! There is a purpose. It's easy to forget because our life is so familiar to us. But you're right, we have amazing things to do because God sent US to do them.
Katie,
I have thought long and hard over the past months and years about your very musings. For a long time I was angry and resentful that I "ended up" in Nebraska — far from my parents, my sister, my nephew, my best friend. I was so lonely and afraid. But slowly (really slowly), I came to realize that God placed me here for a reason. A big reason: so I could find and embrace him! And so I could begin to realize that it's not all in MY control.
I often turn to this verse in Acts: "He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us."
Thank you so much for your supportive and encouraging words, both here and in the comment you left on my blog yesterday! I appreciate it so much!
I bless God this morning for your words. Thank you Jesus. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord, the humble shall hear thereof and me glad- thank you for being the trumpet sounding in my ear. God knows. God cares. God plans for me are to bring a good future.
Oh, Katie. God spoke through your heart to mine today. I have been slogging through a murky fog, thinking, "All is vanity; what's the use?"
Then I read your post.
Thank you, dear sister. Whether I write for one or many, God has me where He needs me, today.
And you: He is using you mightily to touch lives for Him. Keep up the message.
Awesome message! And I think it's something we all needed to hear. Thanks for sharing these thoughts, Katie.
I remind myself of this often, that this life is His. I want His purpose before anything else.
Studying Beth Moore's Esther right now…so I loved this. I'm a huge fan of the journey. Over the past few years God has really taught me to delight in the now and study–study people, study the craft, study all kinds of things. I'll get "there" someday, but once I'm "there" I'll be pining to get somewhere else I imagine.
~ Wendy
Awesome post, Katie! I was just thinking of Esther's story the other day and what she did. I'm searching God right now to answer a few of these questions. I'm pretty confident that I'm doing what He wants me to do and I'm where He wants me to be, but I become discouraged pretty easily and I have to cling to Him to remember that He is the one who put me here, so not to get discouraged. Greater is He that is in me…
Great post, Katie. I'm too mixed up to answer right now–asking God these same questions. Why now? Why me? But I enjoyed reading your assurance that God does have a plan, even if I can't see it at the moment.
Have a wonderful Wednesday!
I had a day off yesterday and it made me want to stay home all the time. I miss being home, keeping the house straight, having time to cook, having quiet to write. But I have to work and help our family. God is orchestrating my life and I am sure there will be beautiful music at some point. 😉 Awesome post, Katie!
Your words spoke to me today too. I wish I didn't have to go back to work this week fulltime after being off on my own for 7 years but I have to believe God has a bigger plan and knows what He wants:) I wish my plan would have come to be but it didn't–at least not today–but I have hope!
Wow, I love this post. You've really made me think this morning! My setting is wonderful and it's true, sometimes I wonder what God might do in my life and why he's put me where I am, etc.
This post is so awesome.
I really believe God is going to give you the desires of your heart, Katie. I'm praying for a sale and an advance that will enable you to stay home. 🙂
Katie, WOW! I wondered as I carefully read your post this morning. You made me think. I have always marveled at Esther's story. And now you have connected it to me.
I am living in a wonderful home, home-schooling my children, taking care of my Christopher and praying for him to be alright, spending time with my horses and all of our farm animals. I have never been closer to God than I am now. I love Jesus and know that this beautiful setting I am in, is not my home. My home is in Heaven. All of Heaven waits for me. To arrive. I really appreciate your post. It is wonderful and made me THINK. Now I will go spend time with God and read Esther this morning.
And Katie, you will be able to stay home soon, if that is what you want. And you will be published too. Hey, I love a good pity party myself from time to time. Thanks friend. All that visit today will be blessed. =)
'For such a time as this' oh you have no idea how much I needed to hear this.
For the last year I have felt like I am in labor with me life. I know what God wants me to speak up and say, but the writing is hard hard work. Sometimes I question if it will ever matter. I am encouraged that it does and it will. Beautiful scripture. Thanks Katie.