Just like Esther, we must choose how we will respond to the various circumstances in our life – whether we’ll act in faith or in fear. On top of that, we must be willing to embrace our season in life and realize we may be right where we are “for such a time as this.”
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TRANSCRIPT:
Welcome to Confidently Growing At Home, a podcast dedicated to empower and equip homeschool moms like you to feel more fulfilled, confident, and content to stay home by focusing on your spiritual and personal growth. I’m your host, Ty Benjamin, and I want to help you become the very best version of yourself at home.
The question is, are you ready?
INTRO:
Hello, hello!
And welcome back to episode number two of the Confidently Growing At Home Podcast, this episode is entitled, For Such A Time As This.
And so the other week, my kids and I were studying the story of Esther for our morning devotional.
And if you’re not familiar with that story, I really highly recommend you read the book of Esther in the Old Testament.
But on this particular morning, we were reading chapter four in Esther.
And just to give a real quick overview of what’s going on in chapter four…
So chapter four starts with Mordecai, who is Esther’s cousin, he learns about the King’s decree to destroy or to kill all the Jews in the kingdom, thanks to Haman who despises Mordecai and the Jews.
And so when he learns about this decree, he’s lamenting, right?
He’s tearing off his clothes. He’s deeply stressed about this news and Esther gets word that he’s going through all this.
And so she sends her attendant to go see what’s going on with him, and Mordecai sends a copy of the decree back to Esther so that she would be informed.
And he asked her to speak with the king – to beg and plead – on behalf of the her people.
And Esther at first told him no because of the law that. If anyone goes to the king without being called, they could be put to death unless the king holds out his golden scepter to approve them.
So in verses 13 and 14, Mordecai says some very powerful words to Esther in which he told her, not to think that she would escape this decree just because she’s in the palace.
In other words, don’t think you won’t be affected by this decree just because you’re the queen. Right.
And then he also said, you can choose to keep silent, but your father’s house will perish – just because you choose not to do anything and stay quiet on this – things will still happen negatively.
In verse 14, he says something very significant.
He says, “who knows, whether you have not come to this kingdom, to the kingdom for such a time as this.”
And then we know that Esther then changed her mind and they go to the king and she was granted an audience with him.
But I started thinking about this passage; I started think about this chapter and especially verses 13 and 14, and I’m like, man, this is good right here.
And there’s some principles and some lessons that can be gleaned from this, from the interaction between Mordecai and Esther, and also just, you know, what transpired – the decisions that were made.
And I feel like we can learn some lessons as moms and as homeschoolers with this chapter.
So I just like to share a few things that or principles that I thought of, but you may be able to glean some more.
Principle 1: Don’t let fear keep you from doing what’s right
Don’t let fear keep you from doing what’s right.
So remember Esther told Mordecai no, at first, because she was afraid of the unknown, right.
She didn’t know what the king would do if she asked for an audience with him.
So her first reaction was like, no way. Nope. I’m not doing that.
She was scared.
And I was like, man, you know, this can be us sometimes.
It could be me sometimes; it could be you.
We have to be mindful of not letting fear cripple us from being our best and doing what God would have us to do.
Don’t let fear of the unknown or the lack of confidence in yourself or in God hold you back from doing great things for the Lord or for your family.
You know, one of my favorite verses is 2 Timothy 1:7 which it says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a power and love. And self-control.”
We all have to guard against the temptation to play it safe.
God intends for us to make these giant, confident leaps in life and not these little timid, half-steps – tiptoeing through life like I’m not sure what’s coming next, and I can’t see from point A to point B, so I won’t really give a lot of effort because I don’t know what’s coming.
I can’t see that far ahead.
I’m afraid. I’m scared.
That’s not how God made us.
And we all have choices in life to make, you know, we choose how we’re going to respond to what happens to us in life.
But we have to remember to trust in the Lord with all our hearts (Proverbs 3:5), and be comforted and assured that He cares for us (I Peter 5:7), and pray to Him about everything (Phil 4:6).
But again, it’s a decision and one we must make every single day.
Principle 2: God gives us purpose in our position
God gives us purpose in our position.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says: To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the sun.
We have many seasons in life.
And different roles and positions that we have to play.
You know, your season and your position right now, maybe as a wife, a mother, a homemaker, homeschool mom, or work from home mom, you know, whatever it is, this is your season of living.
And throughout your seasons, there may be many opportunities that present themselves that require you to either rise up in faith or shrink back in fear.
And I truly believe that every season introduces a woman to herself.
Each season helps you to get to know yourself just a little bit better.
And with homeschooling being so new and so unknown for so many, it’s an opportunity to ask yourself a very direct question:
Will you seek God in your season and discover your for such a time as this, or will you hope this season will just pass you by and go away for something that’s more comfortable and safe?
What is your purpose at home right now?
Is it just to take care of the home and make sure that everybody, you know, stays alive and eat, or is it something greater?
What is your purpose?
And if you’re unsure, I’d like to encourage you to study verses like Ecclesiastes 12:13; 2 Corinthians 4:8-11, Ephesians 2:10, Philippians 1:6, and Titus 2:3-5 just to explore what God has to say about it.
Principle 3: Others are affected by your choices and decisions
Others are affected by your choices and decisions.
And so remember, Esther’s decision to go to the king not only affected her and her immediate family, but all of the Jews in the kingdom.
And your decisions in your home, whether you want to believe it or not, affects not only your household, but also those around you.
You see, we have far more influence than we think sometimes.
You’re not just an example to your kids (in the way you talk, and how you think, how you respond, how you serve others, how you control your emotions, and how you handle situations)
You’re an example to other women.
Those are the women around you in your family, at church, in your social circles, and in your homeschool communities.
We have influence. Period.
And it took me a little while to realize this fact, because you know, when I became a stay at home mom, I was so focused on me.
I was me-focused.
I was, I was thinking about me and my feelings and what I wanted, what I didn’t want and, you know, just…it was all about me.
And I realize now that it’s true, like I have influence.
And I used to think that my influence was just outside the home and in the workplace where I had this position, and I was in charge of these people and, you know, they had to do what I say, and that was my influence.
No, we have influence with everyone we’re around.
And we’re all responsible for how we handle our influence through our decision-making, through our interactions with others, and how we handle our seasons of life.
I’m reminded of what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:1, when he said to the Christians there, he said “to be followers of me, even as I follow Christ.”
You know, Paul understood his influence, and he set an example for others.
And I pray we can have that same mindset and attitude as we continue to move along our growth.
So today, let us ask God for the courage to step beyond the boundaries of our doubts, of our fears, and our comfort zones.
Let us ask him to guide us to a place, to our mindset, and to a faith where we can realize our full potential.
And let us ask him to help us to be a positive influence and a worthy example to our families, to our friends, and to our communities.
Let us glorify him by following in the footsteps of Christ and pray that others would see him in us.
Well, that’s it for this episode.
You can find the show notes at athomewithty.com/2 or you can visit the link in the description.
And if you will like the list of scriptures to help you begin your intentional growth journey, I’ll post a link to a free scripture guide.
So before you go, please be sure to subscribe to the podcast.
And if you’re enjoying this podcast, I’d love for you to leave a five star rating and a review so we can reach other homeschool moms out there hoping to grow and be better.
So thank you again for joining me.
I’m Ty Benjamin, and this has been another episode of Confidently Growing At Home.
Talk to you soon. God bless.
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