“And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”

Esther 4:14

God continually has to remind me time and time again, that my timing is not God’s timing.  Not only that, but God has to remind me that his timing is in fact perfect and my timing is not.  My timing is quick, God’s timing is slow.  My timing is right now, God’s timing is not yet.  My timing is when I want it, God’s timing is when I need it.  I often think of God being slow in his timing, but I’m realizing it’s not slow at all, but his timing is perfect. God has a purpose for his timing, far beyond anything we could ever think or imagine.  

Take a moment to think back on your life.  Think of the divine timing with some of the very big things in your life (and maybe even very small things).  The person you met, the spouse you married, the child you had, the tragedy that happened that led to that redemption story, the phone call that shifted your season, the dream job that came about… all of it.  So many coincidences, right? 😉 It’s easier to look back on things that have already happened and see God’s sovereign timing and hand in it, but it’s harder to see God’s hand still working in your waiting season.  When we are waiting on God for something, we often think how slow his timing is, but what if we shifted that mindset?  What if instead of seeing God’s timing as slow, we see it as perfect?  For nothing God does or allows to happen is in vain. God is intentional, specific, detailed, and good in his timing.  “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”… let’s remove “royal position” and leave it blank… what is it that you are waiting on? “And who knows but that you have come to                    for such a time as this?”  You see, we get the thought in our heads, we get the dream in our mind, we get the picture for our lives and where we see it headed, but God plans all the little details before and after it.  God sees that “royal position”, but God is also the one who plans out the details with it all, for such a time as this.

I love this very simple, yet loaded sentence in Esther for many reasons.  One reason is because I think God specifically wanted me to read about how he very intentionally planned Esher’s life and placed her exactly where he had her, because he knew that I also needed that reminder in this season of my life (and maybe you do too).  In reading Esther and studying her life, you start to see and understand all the overlooked details God put into place for Esther and the people in the book. The Jewish people needed Esther to be in her place of royalty, to one day save them all.  Esther needed to wait to take her position as queen, for such a time as that.  God kept the king from sleep, for a revelation that changed the story.  Esther had a plan to save her people, but it couldn’t be done quickly on a whim, but in God’s timing and with great patience.  It would be so easy to just make all the plans and get it all right when we want it, but would you be ready?  Would you be refined for that trial that may come from what you’ve been waiting for?  Would you be able to speak at that event, if you hadn’t been practicing through the waiting? Would your faith be able to withstand the storm if you hadn’t been strengthened during the waiting period?

Isn’t this the story of God though?  Us thinking God forgot about our situation, oversaw our hurt, didn’t hear our prayer?  Isn’t this like you and I, where we think God is letting the bad guys win and not hearing our cries, but God is actually doing far more behind the scenes?  God has already planned out how the bad guy will be taken down.  God already has an answer to that painful divorce.  God already has redemption after that loss.  God already has that person lined up for you, even when you don’t see it.  God already has it planned out, even if his plan doesn’t equate to our plan.  At some point in our lives, we have to trust the fact that our minds are so limited in comparison to God’s mind.  We could never even come close to wrapping our minds around the details God puts into place, for our good.  Only God can take what was meant for evil by the enemy and turn it for good.  This is the story of Jesus.  Jesus was the only person to live a perfect life.  Jesus was intentional with every single thing he did.  He would walk miles out of his way to show up for that person that needed it at that exact moment, for such a time as this.  Jesus would heal that person that felt out of reach, for such a time as this.  Jesus would bring life back to Lazarus to gain others faith, for such a time as this.  Jesus knew every single detail, yet he didn’t speed up or slow down anything, but kept it all as it was, in his perfect timing.  He wasn’t going to miss any piece and he still won’t.  If you need reminders of this, just open your Bible.  You’ll be reminded that God hasn’t and still doesn’t make any mistakes in his timing.  God has every detail planned in perfection, “He has made everything beautiful in its time”. Ecclesiastes 3:11 

Remember, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heavens”.  Ecclesiastes 3:1 Just because that thing you’ve been waiting for hasn’t happened yet, doesn’t mean God doesn’t see or hear you.  It’s in HIS time, not ours.  His time brings life, not death.  His time brings breath from dust.  His time brings light from dark.  His time brings good from bad.  Just because you’re in a season you don’t understand, doesn’t mean you’re going to stay there.  Seasons aren’t forever. Seasons change and your situation will too.  Trust God in your current season, trust God in his timing and that He has something far greater planned for you, for such a time as this.  Look to him, read his word, and seek him in prayer to help you stay encouraged every step of the way. “For at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9