Our journey through life contains a number of surprises – some are good and some are not so good. The circumstances we face are divine opportunities to fulfill God’s will in our lives. Do we realize the role that pivotal circumstances play in our lives?

The Bible tells the story of a young woman whose family had been taken captive to a distant land. The king was searching for a new queen and the young woman, whose name was Esther, was selected to be the new queen. It just so happened that her uncle, Mordecai, learned of a plot to kill the king and the king was saved. Mordecai was a follower of God and refused to pay homage to the king’s chief adviser, Haman. Haman was incensed at his lack of respect toward himself and sent out an edict that all of the Jews were to be annihilated (this included Esther). When the Mordecai learned of this plot he informed Esther and said to her,

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this? (Esther 4:14)

God engineers the circumstances of our lives to bring Him the most glory. Esther was placed in a strategic position that would enable her to intercede on behalf of her people. How are you using your current situation to bring God the most glory? The circumstances of your life are divinely ordained and you have the opportunity to partner with God or go your own way.

Esther stepped out in courage and invited the king and Haman to dinner. Haman was ecstatic that he would have dinner with the king and queen but he was still bothered that Mordecai would not show him respect. Haman’s friends advised him to build a gallows fifty cubits high and hang Mordecai and then go to the banquet.

It just so happened that the king could not sleep that evening. So he read through the chronicles and discovered that Mordecai had saved his life. Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace in order to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows which he had built. The king invited Haman in and said to him, “What is to be done for the man whom the king desires to honor?” Haman thought to himself, “Whom would the king desire to honor more than me?” So Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king desires to honor, let them bring a royal robe which the king has worn, and the horse on which the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown has been placed; and let the robe and the horse be handed over to one of the king’s most noble princes and let them array the man whom the king desires to honor and lead him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him, ‘Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor.’” Then the king said to Haman, “Take quickly the robes and the horse as you have said, and do so for Mordecai the Jew, who is sitting at the king’s gate; do not fall short in anything of all that you have said.”

What a dramatic turn of events! Queen Esther was placed in a position of royalty for such a time as this. God delivered His people and her uncle’s faithfulness was rewarded,

For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews and in favor with his many kinsmen, one who sought the good of his people and one who spoke for the welfare of his whole nation. (Esther 10:3)

 It is no mistake that you are where you are at this point in time. What great assignment does God have for you at this time in your life? God has placed you in your current situation for such a time as this.

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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