Brave Like a Child

by Amanda Harris

“Who is the greatest in God’s kingdom?” Jesus responded, “the truth is, you must change your thinking and become like little children.  If you don’t do this, you will never enter God’s kingdom.  The greatest person in God’s kingdom is the one who makes himself humble like this child.”  Matthew 18:1-4 (ERV).

The last podcast about how Miriam helped save Moses sent me back to my own childhood.  I’m not ashamed to admit that I cried pretty much every day of the first grade.  I loved learning and even liked my teacher, but I had never been around so many people I didn’t know.  It was loud.  There were cooties.  Between the line cutters and the bullies, I didn’t understand why so many kids didn’t follow the rules.  To top it off, we spent every morning in the cafeteria before we were permitted to go to our classroom.  Leaving a six year old alone with her thoughts and fears for twenty minutes before the day even began just made the anxiety worse. 

Enter my big sister.  She was, to me, invincible.  She was loyal and had a strong sense of right and wrong.  She was also a fifth grader and was not supposed to be in the cafeteria with the younger children.  When one of the (not so nice) teachers told her that she couldn’t wait with me before class, my sister promptly informed the teacher that she was staying.  She wouldn’t leave me, and she didn’t.  Day after day, my sister accompanied me to the cafeteria and stayed until I said it was okay for her to go.    

            The funny thing is, I turned out to be pretty brave.  I have traveled to other countries by myself and taken huge leaps of faith by moving, alone, to new cities far away from my family and friends.  Today, I’m probably independent to a fault.  But I would not be this way without my sister’s courage and compassion or without my own childish faith in her.  Enter Miriam and Moses.  The Bible says that Miriam “stood at a distance to see what would happen to [Moses].”  Exodus 2:4.  Miriam stayed with Moses, like my sister stayed with me, and then Miriam stepped out in faith by suggesting that Pharaoh’s daughter keep Moses alive.  Exodus 2:7.  Moses would not have been who he was without Miriam.  In fact, Moses probably would not have survived beyond infancy.  But Miriam was his champion.  Much like my sister, she was brave, faithful, and had strong sense of right and wrong.  She seized on the opportunity to save her brother, and that act of faith ultimately helped save her people.

            Maybe today you feel like Miriam, strong, brave, and faithful.  Perhaps you need to ask God to give you an opportunity to step out in faith to help someone else.  Or maybe you feel more like baby Moses, afraid, alone, and floating without direction.  Either way, there is a God for you to put your child-like faith and trust in.  He is the same God who brought two women to the river at just the right moment, and He is the same God who puts Miriams in our lives just when we most need a champion.   

When asked, “Who is the greatest in God’s kingdom?” Jesus responded, “the truth is, you must change your thinking and become like little children.  If you don’t do this, you will never enter God’s kingdom.  The greatest person in God’s kingdom is the one who makes himself humble like this child.”  Matthew 18:1-4 (ERV).  Thank you God; for on the days I feel most afraid, I will rely on my faith in you to pass through the storm.  And on days I feel bravest, it will be with that same faith that I step out.  I pray today that we can take a moment to humble ourselves and become like little children, putting our faith in the Father who loves us so.  

There Are No Small Roles

by Danielle Pickinpaugh

"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.” Luke 16:10

I remember when I was little, I went to church camp every summer. And every summer, I came home telling my parents I was going to be a missionary. I was going to travel all over the world loving on people, telling them about the gospel, and baptizing new believers in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And in true little Danielle fashion, nothing was going to stop me.

Now, twenty years later, I have never traveled to another country, been on a mission trip, or even gotten my passport. Moreover, I have never lived anywhere besides Kentucky.

About 5 years ago, this fact really bothered me. I was pursuing my doctorate, and I remember feeling so alone. There were some Christians I worked with, but we were the minority. Most of the time, I was questioned how I could be a scientist and believe in Jesus-for it’s not logical to believe in a Savior. That on top of the daily struggle to prove myself worthy and obtain valid data would leave me with a feeling of exhaustion. I felt like I was constantly treading water, and as soon as I caught my breathe, another wave would crash upon me. The feeling of defeat and failure were all but too near, and I begin to question why I was even there in the first place. Did I fail in some way to never go where I thought I needed go? Was I disappointment to God because I didn’t achieve those dreams I had when I was little about being a missionary? Was I even expanding his Kingdom at all?

I had it in my mind that I was meant for something big. To travel to wondrous places. To spread his name to many countries. To be a martyr for His cause. And yet, here I was stuck in lab for another long night.

I cried out to God, “What if I just quit now? Why don’t I just become a missionary so I can truly serve you and bring people to you.”

And of course, God being the sweet Lord that He is, answered ever so gently, “Name all the people in your lab.”

So I did. I named them one by one. Then He asked, “Tell me what country they are from?”

And I begin to name their country, “China, Germany, India, Brazil, and Iraq.”

Then God said, “So why would you want to travel all over the world, when I’ve brought the world to you?”

I started crying. I knew at that moment I was exactly where I was supposed to be. I might not have ever traveled to another country, gotten my passport, or lived anywhere by Kentucky. However, if I did, I never would have been able to meet all the different people from all those different countries that worked in my lab. I never would have been able to talk to them about God’s grace, his love, and his patience. I never would have been able to encourage them in Christ and pray for them. I never would have been able to debate them logically about why God is real. And if I wasn’t there to talk about the Lord to them, who was going to be there to do it?

Just like Shiphrah and Puah, there are no small roles. They weren’t called to be Moses and deliver the Israelites out of Egypt. However, without them, Moses would have never been born. They saved him as a baby, so he later could save the nation of Israel.

Don’t ever underestimate your role in God’s plan. You may think its small, but in God’s grand scheme, one small act of obedience will change how history is written.

You are My Canvas by Danielle Pickinpaugh

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Ephesians 2:10

You are my canvas, beautiful and white

You are my creation that I bring to life

I have molded your body, heart, and mind

You are made in my image, yet still one of a kind

You are my masterpiece, I created you with care

You are my child, I’ve numbered your hair

I am the potter, and you are my clay

So let me into your life each day

I see all the battles that you must go through

I see all the pain and suffering too.

I know this isn’t what you thought it’d be like

But I promise that when the time is right

The curtain will be lifted and the fog will clear

And you will see the whole painting I made for you, dear.

I have given you a journey, one that’s unique

A mission that only you can complete.

So don’t compare yourself to others and wish that were you

For there is no other heart that can do what you can do

Stay on course and keep seeking my Face

Always be thankful, and do not lose faith

For some things will be easy; some things will be hard

But when you look closely, my blessings aren’t far

Some things will come quick, and others take time

But I promise that you are never behind

For I have placed you right where I need you to be

Why? Simply to bring others closer to me.

I love you, my child, but I love all my sheep

And some have wandered away from my keep

So I put you right where you are today

To shine with the Spirit in the darkest of days

You don’t have to be perfect, don’t feel like you do

For that’s why my Son died for you

But remember you’re my canvas, a masterful design

You are my chosen, you will always be mine.

Grow Tall and Strong by Madison Little

Psalm 92:12 – 12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

I grew up a lot like many children nestled in the hills of Appalachia in the way that I was a Believer. I knew the Lord. He was a center in my life. And while I knew Him and I knew His word, I don’t know that I truly knew Him. I don’t believe that it was until I had newfound independence of being out on my own that I came to know His word and not only think of it more in my day-to-day life, but yet, embody it. I like to think of this as though when you eat as salty snack. You can’t just have one chip; you get a taste and it leaves you wanting more and more. As much as I think I know his word, I find myself learning and interpreting it in new ways almost daily.   

                  While I love Appalachia and the way it helped shape me into a person, I was so very blessed to travel as a child. I think some of my fondest family memories include activities on a beach in the Caribbean. I cling to those memories because they can turn any bad or sad day around. And I think that’s partially why I love the beach and palm trees so very much. I find happiness in those things. 

                  In Episode 13 of The Modern Esther, Danielle and Amy discussed the significance of the palm of Deborah as wells as the palm throughout scripture. I believe that message as a whole was one that I personally needed.

                  I believe it’s a consensus when I say palm trees are often associated with beaches, warm weather, and just bliss. That’s the connection I personally have had tied to them my entire life. Just solely because they were attached to things that I loved. Yet, we know because of scripture that God too has such a special regard for palm trees. They were etched throughout Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 6:29-35; 7:36) and will be in God’s future temple.

                  In today’s day and age, society’s vocabulary and mentality are full of fear, doubt, unbelief, and uncertainty. However, this should not be the case in those who are believers. They carry words of faith, trust, and hope. Much like palms have distinct and recognizable appearances, Christians do by their actions. There should be something about us that is distinct compared to the rest of society. There should be something within us that nonbelievers just do not have, but yet they desire it. We can think of this much like the chip reference I mentioned earlier. If we are able to show nonbelievers that we as Christians have this special kind of chip. There’s nothing quite like it. If they eat they chip it can open a whole new world of everlasting love and happiness that no one else can offer. I think they eat they chip and too, ask for more.

                  We have God’s grace. We have God’s presence. We have His peace. His word is in our heart, allowing us to rise above the rest. With Him, we are able to flourish much like the palm.

No matter which direction a palm is planted, they will always grow towards the sun. This means they sometimes grow and contort themselves in untraditional fashions. When an individual is grounded and rooted in Christ, they will always be attracted to the Son. They have a desire in their heart to grow closer and closer to the Lord and His word. This sometimes means that they have to make difficult decisions and resist things are seen as an easier route or are able to give instant gratification.

I encourage you all to become rooted in the love and faith of Jesus Christ. I encourage you to grow tall and strong towards the Son.

Watch me! Watch me!

18But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love…

Psalm 33:18

I can remember when I was a kid, my mom would take me to my aunt’s swimming pool on hot summer days.  We LOVED going there and swimming, but the best part about the pool was the diving board in the deep end.  The summer that I finally mustered up enough courage to go off the diving board, I felt like I was on top of the world!  Over and over again I would jump off, and I would shout at my mom and aunt each time to watch me.  I wanted to make sure they saw what I had accomplished.  Eventually, my sweet and oh so patient mom would say, “I see you, I see you!” 

Fast forward several years and I’m not at the diving board anymore, but in a similar way, I am striving to conquer other goals in my life.  Even though I’m not shouting to an audience of family members, begging them to watch me do a cannon ball, the feeling of wanting to be noticed still dwells within my heart.  Sometimes after a stressful day at work or a bad grade at school, I find myself wondering, do I matter?  Does anyone really see me or am I just invisible sometimes?  I even catch myself asking God the same question - do you see me?  Watch me please, God! 

In last week’s episode of The Modern Esther, Danielle and Amanda dug deep into what God’s word says about comparison.  That message was one I so desperately needed to hear.  Along the same deceitful vein of comparison that they discussed, is the feeling that you’ve been unnoticed.  I tend to compare myself to other Christian women and think God sees them raising their precious children, but meanwhile does he see me in my mundane finance job?  They are doing his work and helping build up the next generation of believers, but I am just trying to keep my head above water at work.  How can God see me when these women are doing such epic things for his kingdom, and it feels like I’m not?  But, as Jesus tends to do in his kind way, he led me to an important piece of scripture in Psalm 33:18.

18But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love…

This scripture says to me that when your heart is turned toward the Lord of lords, you will not go unnoticed.  His eyes are upon you, and even when the world doesn’t see you, he certainly does.  As people living on this side of Heaven we are so conditioned to want to stand out to be recognized.  We have to be the best at something or the smartest at something.  The competition of the world is exhausting and this race of trying to be the highest achiever can be the most overwhelming feeling when we stop and think about it. 

Sometimes we need to take a time out for a minute and pause…just to reconcile with our minds that God’s love is not hinged upon our ability to stand out in the crowd.  God doesn’t care if we are the prettiest or the smartest.  He doesn’t care if we are married with kids or single and working.  He isn’t interested in if we are the best dressed or if we went to the best school.  Nor does he concern himself with whether we have a resume a mile long or if we just have a few words on a page because none of these things matter to him.  He simply cares about us.  He simply sees us.  That is the love of our Father, and that is the love we must put our worth in. 

When I rest in this reality I come to understand that I don’t have to be anything other than what I am and what God is molding me into.  I was not created to be someone else, but I was uniquely designed by God to simply be me.  When the world doesn’t see me and my goals or my struggles, God sees me.  He sees you too, sister.  Thankfully, his eyes are the only eyes that matter for the eternal purpose he has called us to. 

Numbered Days

Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12 (NIV)

I was talking to a dear friend a couple of weeks ago about a potential job opportunity that she was considering, and I told her that she just needed to take things one day at a time.  Sometimes it’s funny how God works and when it feels like I’m giving advice to someone else, God is actually giving that advice back to me.  After we got off the phone, the words I had told her kept ringing in my head.  One day at a time.  What about my own life?  How do I live one day at a time? 

I don’t know about you guys, but I am always planning for the future.  Actually, planning and staying organized is such a gift from God because without it, there’s no way I could survive such a hectic season of life.  Literally, almost every day is planned from the second I wake up to the moment I fall asleep.  Being in law school and working full-time will do that to a girl.  I have to squeeze every possible moment of productivity and make it count the most.  But if I’m being honest, sometimes this level of commitment becomes exhausting and I suddenly realize that by having every second accounted for and planned, I don’t have a lot of time to just relax and enjoy life.

Now, I’m not saying there is a thing wrong with being the most productive version of yourself.  I truly think that as career women there is sometimes nothing more helpful than being organized and on top of things, but I know God has also been tugging at my heart lately to understand my own limits.  Even though I feel sometimes that there are not enough hours in the day, I know God put exactly the right amount of time in a day…because…well…he’s God and he’s brilliant and he’s perfect.  So that got me thinking and praying about what God’s Word actually says about time management.  I was led to the Psalms and found our key verse:

               Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12(NIV)

This scripture is beautiful in many ways, and it struck a chord with me.  First, it reminded me that our days are numbered here in our temporary home on Earth.  Often we plan and plan and plan, but what’s it for?  What is our ultimate destination?  Being called to a career by God, I sometimes feel like my destination is just getting the degree I’m working on or landing the dream job I desire, but the truth is that my ultimate destination is Heaven.  Nothing I am working on today or tomorrow or at any point in my life is meaningful unless I keep the ultimate destination in mind.  I am here on Earth for a purpose and that purpose is to glorify God.  My vocation is the way God has called me to bring him glory, but I must remember that my vocation is not my destination.  I must remember that my earthly days are numbered and rather than cramming them with tasks to complete, sometimes I will do well to just remember that each day is a blessing and my “task” is to relax in that blessing and enjoy God’s fruitfulness in my life. 

The second half of this verse is equally as beautiful as the first.  Wisdom comes in many forms, but wisdom of the heart seems like a highly sought after trait.  As Christians, we know that our spiritual wisdom comes from Christ and Christ alone.  By keeping our ultimate destination of Heaven at the forefront of our daily grind, there is so much wisdom that we can store up in our hearts.  Most importantly, that wisdom will change our perspectives.  Instead of looking at a day full of meaningless tasks to complete or struggles and hurdles to get through, we can look at those things as the realization that we are a part of something much bigger.  When we see our hurdles through the lens of Jesus, we can see great things for His Kingdom.  We see that life is not about each small point we get to, but ultimately about the time we will spend in eternity.

So today and every day, wake up and do your thing.  If that’s planning, plan, if that’s organizing, organize.  If that’s filling up every second with something to do, then you go girl.  Just don’t lose sight of what the ultimate prize is, and remember the reason for why you’re doing what you’re doing – to bring glory to our gracious God!

Esther- For Such a Time as This by Amanda Harris

Palm Sunday seems like the perfect time to reflect on the meaning of “for such a time as this.”  After all, Jesus, son of God (John 10:36), was facing the ultimate “for such a time as this.”  And in the coming days we as Christians will celebrate the miracle of Jesus’s obedience and sacrifice in his death and resurrection.  In short, Jesus saved us, and Esther saved her people. 

Wow, those are pretty big shoes to fill.  But here is the good news: Jesus has already died for each of us.  Jesus is the savior, which means we don’t have to be. Instead, we are called to accept Jesus as our personal savior and to “[d]o nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.  Rather, in humility value others above [ourselves], not looking to [our] own interests but each of [us] to the interests of others.”  Philippians 2:3-4.   

Coincidently or (perhaps providentially), my pastor preached this morning about recognizing a time to stop praying and start acting.  He believes that making an impact for the Kingdom requires: your God-given ability, Christ-like attitude (Philippians 2:5), and an anointing from Christ (1John 2:27).  I don’t know about you, but this sounds a lot like “for such a time as this” to me.    

During the podcast we said that “for such a time as this” is the intersection of God’s prompting, opportunity, prayer, and faith.  Personally, the faith part is the hardest for me.  Sometimes, I am so worried about failing that I do nothing at all.  Maybe you have felt that way too.  Or maybe you struggle to hear that still small voice or to discern the Lord’s will in your life.  Perhaps, you haven’t recognized the opportunity God has placed in your life to act for his Kingdom.  Or could it be that you just need to pray to see and seize those opportunities?  Regardless of where we may stumble, the Bible assures that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  Romans 8:28.    

Maybe we should worry less, and step out in faith more.  I am confident that when we are obedient and place our faith in Christ, we will all have Esther moments.  Maybe, it is serving a coworker selflessly in your workplace.  Maybe, it’s taking a leap of faith by going back to school or changing jobs.  Maybe, it’s starting a podcast or going on a mission trip.  Maybe, it is showing the love of Christ to someone God has placed on your heart.  Maybe, it is as simple as representing the light of Christ in a dark workplace or situation.   

As we go forward this week and celebrate our Messiah, I challenge us all to be ready to seize on the opportunities that God places in our lives.  We can be assured that the Lord has plans to prosper us and not to harm us, to give us hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11.  Like it says in Luke 16:10 if you are obedient in the small things, He will entrust you with the big things.  The next time you feel that prompting from the Lord to act, no matter how small it may feel, pray first, and then ask yourself the question, “And who knows but that you [insert your name] have come to your royal position for such a time as this.”  Esther 4:14

Esther - Can You See My Blessings?

As Christians we know God’s love is always with us, but the reality is that even as Christ-followers we may experience suffering and waiting.  We simply live in a world that has trouble.  Being completely honest, I have prayed the prayer before… what are you waiting on, God?  Where are you, God, in this immense time of struggle?  Where is the healing?  Where is my spouse?  Please give me a financial breakthrough.  Please touch my family.  And although being honest with God is really the best way to pray since he knows our hearts anyway, there’s also a bit of conviction in this prayer.  Not because of the rawness and truth, but because we can tend to overlook just how blessed we really are.

We see this in Esther’s life on many occasions.  At a high level we may not think Esther suffered, but suffering takes on many different forms and looks different for each one of us.  We dug a little deeper into Esther’s sufferings and found that although she suffered, she had a blessing from God each time to counterbalance her sufferings. 

• Esther 2:7— 7Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother.  This girl, who was also known as Esther, was lovely in form and features, and Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died. (NIV)

  • Suffering—Esther was an orphan.  Likely her parents died while she was at a young age because she was unable to care for herself.  Growing up without a father and mother was undoubtedly difficult.   

  • Blessing—Although she was orphaned, Mordecai takes her in as his own and raises her, caring for her.  God provided Mordecai to Esther in this time of struggle.

• Esther 2:8-9— 8When the king’s order and edict had been proclaimed, many girls were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king’s palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem.  9The girl pleased him and won his favor.  Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food.  He assigned to her seven maids selected from the king’s palace and moved her and her maids into the best place in the harem. (NIV)

  •   Suffering—Esther was “taken” to the palace to participate in the beauty pageant.  The NLT version and the KJV use the word “brought”, but the NIV uses the word “taken” to describe Esther’s participation in the contest to become King Xerxes’ wife.  We cannot say for certain if Esther wanted to participate or if she was forced to participate by Mordecai.  We tend to think that Esther was led by Mordecai because Mordecai worked for the palace and it made sense that he would want Esther to become queen.  Mordecai could gain favor and authority with the king if he was able to get Esther in such a position.  From Esther’s perspective, this contest was a big risk.  If she was not chosen as queen, she would be a concubine, which would ruin her other prospects for becoming married.

  • Blessing—Although Esther was taking a big risk by participating in the contest, whether willfully or not, God provided Hegai to her.  Hegai showed much favor to Esther and gave her special privileges that other women who were participating in the contest did not get.  Even if Esther was forced to be in a “sex competition” she did not want to be in, God blessed her with comfort and favor during this time.

• Esther 2:10-11— 10Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so. 11Every day he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her. (NIV)

  • Suffering—Esther was told to hide her identity to participate in the contest.  She couldn’t tell any of those around her who she really was.  She was in the palace, but she couldn’t share her ethnicity, her faith, or her heritage with anyone for fear of being rejected in the contest.  Also, she didn’t appear to have much contact with her only family member that we know of, Mordecai.  Verse 11 talks about Mordecai keeping in touch by walking by the Harem.  Esther seems to be very alone during this period.

  • Blessing—God still provided for Esther, though.  Again, God gave her Hegai and his favor.  Also, if we look further in 4:16, when Esther accepts Mordecai’s request to approach the king we also see that Esther may have developed some friendships in the palace.  This verse discusses how Esther instructs Mordecai that she will gather up her servants and they will pray and fast.  Now, although we can’t tell for sure that Esther’s maids were “friends” this verse seems to indicate that.  Remember, Esther was hiding her Jewish identity.  By saying that she would gather her own maids to pray and fast it seems as though she’s built a friendship with these people.  In other words, she is letting these people in on her secret of Jewish faith so there may have been some relational foundation there that indicates friendship.

• Esther 2:12— 12Before a girl’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. (NIV)

  • Suffering—Esther went through a couple of periods of purely waiting.  She waited during the beauty treatments before she was chosen to be queen.  Also, many biblical commentators believe there was a 3-5 year waiting period after Esther becomes queen, and before her request from Mordecai to approach the king to rescue the Jews.  We don’t really know what she was doing during that time period, or more importantly, what God was doing with her heart. 

  • Blessing—God still provides in this waiting.  God ultimately made Esther the queen.  Again, Esther may or may not have wanted to participate in the contest, but regardless she was a participant and ultimately becoming queen was the best outcome she could have hoped for given the circumstances.  Once in this position as queen, God prepared Esther to save his people. 

Oftentimes, suffering and waiting go hand in hand.  It certainly did for parts of Esther’s story, and it does in many of our own lives.  When the waiting and the suffering happen at the same time it can be especially difficult.  But we must remember what God’s word says about these valleys in our lives.  In the story of Job, Job calls out to God through his struggles and God seems to respond, can you see my blessings?  This reality hit us hard.  In our own times of struggles, we realized God always continues to bless us.  Sometimes we just need to make a conscious effort to look for the blessings through our suffering.  Zechariah 9:12 says – Come back to the place of safety, all you prisoners who still have hope! I promise this very day that I will repay two blessings for each of your troubles (NLT). 

Through preparation for this part of Esther, we felt God instructed us to follow up on Zechariah 9:12’s promise to us.  We went back and looked through how many times the words “blessing” and “trouble” were mentioned in scripture.  Troubles, trial, and tribulation were mentioned 236 times.  For any variation of the word blessing, it was mentioned 491 times total.  236 x 2 = 472.  So we saw that blessing was actually mentioned more than twice as many times as the word trouble in the Bible.

Deron Spoo is an author who wrote the book entitled “The Good Book.” In it he states, “When you encounter your next difficult season resist the urge to pray, God get me out of this! Instead, choose to pray, God what do you want to get out of this?”  His book also discusses Ahn Kim, who was a Korean Christian political prisoner when the Japanese occupied her country during World War II, saying she managed to survive focusing on the physical and spiritual needs of those imprisoned around her.  Every morning Kim would wake up in her prison cell and pray, “Jesus, who do you want me to love today?”  Suffering is certainly no fun, but it may be an opportunity for God to transform us.  He gave a beautiful example of this in the life of Esther.

Heaven will be so wonderful with no pain and no suffering.  Maybe we should look at troubles on earth as our only opportunity to suffer for Christ?  Being a Christian is not easy.  It’s the hardest thing to follow in faith when the world around you seems full of pain, or when you’re hurting.  But when you are in a season of suffering or waiting, and you’re crying out to God and feel like he’s not listening - just look for the blessings that are before you and you will find them in double.  Be comforted that God has you, and he will never leave you.

5You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. 6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!

Psalm 139:5-6 (NLT)

Esther - Growing up with a Purpose in the Providence of God

2 Then the king’s personal attendants proposed, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king.  3 Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his real to bring all these beautiful girls into the harem at the citadel of Susa.  Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them.  4 Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.”  This advice appealed to the king, and he followed it.

5 Now there was in the citadel of Susa a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, named Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, 6 who had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, among those taken captive with Jehoiachin king of Judah.  7 Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother.  This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful.  Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died.

8 When the king’s order and edict had been proclaimed, many young women were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai.  Esther also was taken to the King’s palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem.  9 She pleased him and won his favor.  Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food.  He assigned to her seven female attendants selected from the king’s palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem.

10 Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so.  11Every day he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her.

Esther 2:2-11 (NIV)

Esther’s life seems to demonstrate an outline of events that God has applied to many people in the Bible, but also in our own lives.  First, Esther had a purpose and God had providence over her life.  But before that was fulfilled, Esther went through a waiting period before becoming queen and even after becoming queen.  God then calls Esther to action!  She is called to live out God’s will, and she has a choice to either do as God says, or not.  Esther demonstrates humble obedience to God’s command, and eventually she lives out fulfilment in her role as the queen and saves God’s chosen people.  Our focus for Episode 2 and this post is to really hone in on Esther’s purpose and God’s providence.  As we look at Esther’s life it’s important to understand the history before the above referenced passage.  

Esther is one of only two books in the Bible named after women, the other being Ruth.  Esther is also the only book in the Bible where God’s name is actually not mentioned.  As we’ve heard it put before though, God’s name might not be mentioned, but his “fingerprints” are all over Esther’s story.  The setting in Esther was roughly 483-473 B.C.  The Jewish people had been exiled to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar for over 70 years.  Ezra chapters 1-6 describe the conquering of Babylon by the Persian Empire.  After being conquered, King Cyrus allows the Jews to go home – back to Jerusalem.  Only 43,000 Jews chose to go back to Jerusalem and the rest remained in Persia.  Esther and Mordecai are two of the Jews still left in Persia under King Xerxes rule.  King Xerxes decides to have a big party for 6 months as he is trying to get support for Persia to go to war with Greece. 

The party is biblically described as having a lot of spirits and alcohol.  King Xerxes’ wife, Queen Vashti, is also having a banquet for the women.  The King calls his wife to him so he can look at her with his friends, but Queen Vashti refuses.  Because King Xerxes is embarrassed that she would not come to him, his advisors suggest that he make a decree to remove Vashti from the throne.  King Xerxes does as told and removes Vashti to set an example.  After eventually going to war with Greece and losing, King Xerxes may have been feeling a little lonely so he decides to search for a new queen.  That is where we pick up in Esther 2:2 (see the passage above). 

Have you ever wondered what your purpose in life is?  How about what is God’s plan for us?  Danielle and I have certainly asked ourselves these questions before.  As we dig deeper into the life of Esther we started to see a clear difference between what our purpose is, and what God’s ultimate providence is.  Although purpose and providence are often used synonymously, they actually have different meanings.  Purpose is defined as the reason for which something (or someone) exists.  While providence is actually defined as the protective care of God.  The book of Esther is often referenced by many pastors to learn or teach about God’s providence. 

A well-known theologian, Dr. Jay Vernon McGee, describes providence as “the means by which God directs all things, both animate and inanimate, seen and unseen, good and evil, toward a worthy purpose which means his will must finally prevail.”  He also said, “you can be in the providence of God without being in the will of God.”  Esther and Mordecai are good examples of this.  We see them being disobedient in ways, but God still carried out his providence in their lives.  First, Esther and Mordecai were out of the will of God because they were still in Persia.  The prophet Jeremiah told the Jews they were to return home, but yet Esther and Mordecai didn’t follow this.  They stayed in Persia, a place where the faith was likely not respected and was not the designated land God had set aside for his holy people. 

Second, Esther participated in a beauty pageant which really is more like a sex competition.  Verse 2:12-14 describes the process Esther went through to be selected as queen.  She had to abide by strict beauty treatments and saw the king once.  If he liked her or was especially attracted to her she would be selected to come back.  Of all the women, the king selected Esther to be queen.  Had she not been selected she could have been a concubine instead.  Concubines were women who were not married to the king, but that he was intimate with.  Genesis describes marriage as being between a man and a woman, indicating one man and one woman.  Although concubines are not explicitly condemned by God, this type of relationship was likely not what God had in mind for marriage. 

Last, Esther and Mordecai were lying about her identity and even went so far as to change her name.  Esther’s original Hebrew name was Hadassah, but she changes it to the Persian name Esther.  From a secular standpoint this was wise of her to do because she would not have been selected as queen had her nationality been revealed, but this effort was a cover-up of who she truly was in God. 

Although Esther wasn’t really living according to God’s will, as we see in these three examples, God was still carrying out his providential plan.  This certainly applies in my own life, and probably many women’s lives.  We may choose to be outside of God’s will, but yet he still carries out his providence.  God’s providence was so great in Esther’s life that it was enough to change her heart towards him.  Ultimately Esther saved God’s people although her path to the position of influence as queen may have not been according to God’s will.  This is biblical evidence of being outside God’s will, yet he still can use you for his glory.  Even nonbelievers are affected by God’s great providence.  In fact, many people who were once nonbelievers but now are Christians can look back over their lives and realize even at times when they didn’t know God, he was working things together for them. 

It’s common for Christian women to wonder what God’s purpose is for our lives.  Especially when we feel like we aren’t doing enough for him.  We feel like we aren’t successful enough, aren’t working hard enough, aren’t studying hard enough, aren’t spending enough time with our families, and the list could go on.  But the truth is, if you’re struggling to find your purpose, don’t.  If you’re struggling to fulfill your purpose, don’t.  Providence means that God will provide in the purpose that he has created for you.  He is directing all things.  He is alpha and omega, beginning and end. He holds the world in his hand, but knows every hair on your head. He knows the names of every person that has ever been or ever will be born, and he has still chosen you to be a part of his story. 

The Other Side to the Proverbs 31 Woman

A Wife of Noble Character

10 Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
    She is more precious than rubies.
11 Her husband can trust her,
    and she will greatly enrich his life.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life.

13 She finds wool and flax
    and busily spins it.
14 She is like a merchant’s ship,
    bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
    and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.

16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
    with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She is energetic and strong,
    a hard worker.
18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
    her lamp burns late into the night.

19 Her hands are busy spinning thread,
    her fingers twisting fiber.
20 She extends a helping hand to the poor
    and opens her arms to the needy.
21 She has no fear of winter for her household,
    for everyone has warm[c] clothes.

22 She makes her own bedspreads.
    She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
23 Her husband is well known at the city gates,
    where he sits with the other civic leaders.
24 She makes belted linen garments
    and sashes to sell to the merchants.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity,
    and she laughs without fear of the future.
26 When she speaks, her words are wise,
    and she gives instructions with kindness.
27 She carefully watches everything in her household
    and suffers nothing from laziness.

28 Her children stand and bless her.
    Her husband praises her:
29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
    but you surpass them all!”

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
    but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
31 Reward her for all she has done.
    Let her deeds publicly declare her praise. 

Proverbs 31:10-31 (NLT)

Growing up in church, we heard about the Proverbs 31 woman and were encouraged that she was the model for Christian young women.  In fact, young men were told to seek out this woman in their own future wives.  We had heard many sermons and had done many bible studies about her virtues.  Needless to say, we developed a picturesque view of this lady.  We equated the Proverbs 31 woman to our own mothers, and it motivated us even more to want to match her characteristics.  But as we have been praying more recently, God has led us to another side of her.  God has shown us another viewpoint of this woman that is often seen as the standard for women in the Church.

Unlike many of the noble women in the Bible, the Proverbs 31 woman actually does not exist.  We do not point this out to say that her character is to be overlooked because she isn’t real, but rather to remember when holding ourselves to her standard that this woman never actually existed.  Through prayer and research we wanted to categorize the characteristics that the Proverbs 31 woman had in order to try and see what was mentioned most.  In other words, what did the author of this passage want us to know best about this woman based on how many times it was said?

In order to categorize based upon the pure language, we used the categories already set forth in the scripture.  For example, verse 13 says the woman is “more precious than rubies.”  So we made that a category.  Anytime something like that was mentioned throughout the remaining scripture we would tally up the times mentioned.  Here are the categories we saw, and a number of how many times they were mentioned throughout:

1. Precious than rubies (v. 13) – 1 time mentioned

2. Energetic (v. 17) – 1 time mentioned

3. Mother (v. 28) – 1 time mentioned

4. Well-dressed (v. 22) – 1 time mentioned

5. God-fearing (v. 30) – 1 time mentioned

6. Virtuous and capable (v. 13; 29) – 2 times mentioned

7. Wise (v. 18; 26) – 2 times mentioned

8. Strong/strength (v. 17; 25) – 2 times mentioned

9. Hospitable/kind (v. 20; 26) – 2 times mentioned

10. Fearless (v. 21; 25) – 2 times mentioned

11. Praiseworthy (v. 28; 30; 31) – 3 times mentioned

12. Wife (v. 11; 12; 23; 28) – 4 times mentioned

13. Homemaker/caregiver (v. 14; 15; 19; 21; 22; 27) – 6 times mentioned

14. Hardworking/not lazy (v. 13; 15; 16; 17; 18; 19; 24; 27) – 8 times mentioned

When we tallied up the results, we could not believe what we had found!  The theme that was mentioned most was the fact that this woman was hardworking and not lazy.  This really blew our minds because unfortunately we had never noticed how many times that side of her was mentioned.  Not only were there 8 verses that pointed to her hardworking personality, but actually 5 of those 8 verses could be interpreted as the woman working for dealings outside the home:

Vs. 13 “she finds wool and flax and busily spins it.”

Vs. 16 “she goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard”

Vs.18 “she makes profitable her dealings and her lamp burns late into the night.”

Vs. 19 “her hands busy spiny spinning thread her fingers twisting fiber.”

Vs. 24 “she makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants.”

The author’s intentions with this can’t be determined with full certainty, but it is clear that the work ethic of this woman was an important point.  So important that it was mentioned more than any of her other characteristics.  We felt it was God’s way of showing that he puts value on women who exemplify hard work outside the home, as well as those who work in their own households.  Either way the Proverbs 31 woman is, in fact, a woman of hardworking integrity.

Seeing this woman through a new lens we started to view specific scriptures differently.  Verse 11 discusses the fact that this woman’s husband had confidence in her.  Having read this several times before, it was a verse that could easily be overlooked, but this verse may deserve more attention.  Confidence is the key word in verse 11 (NIV version).  Her husband trusted her, and by trusting her he entrusted things to her in regards to their household.  Her husband was not intimidated by her strength and intelligence, but rather he knew she was an equal partner to him. 

Verse 15 also supported this interpretation when the verse spelled out the fact that the woman “provides” for her family (NIV version).  Not only does she cook or prepare the meals for her family, but she could actually be considered a partner with her husband in providing income to pay for the meal.  Further, in verse 15 this woman is described as managing her servant girls.  Praying about this we felt like this verse described the Proverbs 31 woman as a leader.  She was in a leadership position and had employees who worked for her.  This was certainly something we hadn’t noticed before. 

Ultimately after studying further about the Proverbs 31 woman our minds and hearts were truly opened.  We discovered so much about this woman that we had not heard before.  God has put different things on all of his daughter’s hearts, but the important thing to remember is that we are all, in fact, his daughters first and foremost.  And that wherever we are, or whatever we are doing, we are working for Christ alone.  Some women are called to stay at home with their children, some women are called to work in the church, and some women are even called to careers.  The Proverbs 31 woman exemplified many faces of the Wife of Noble Character, all of which are seen as equally pleasing to the Lord.

So burn that midnight oil, get up before dawn, and laugh without fear of the future.  Your goals are more precious than rubies, your energy will not be wasted.  For when you follow in Christ’s path, the journey is promised to be long and you must work hard.  You must work hard for the Lord.   But like it states in Proverbs 31:31, in the end you receive your “reward for all you have done.  And your deeds will publicly be declared for praise.”  For you, indeed, surpass them all.