For such a time as this.

In the book of Esther, when Mordecai finds out that the evil Haman has devised to destroy the entire population of Jews(Hitler wasn't the first), he goes to Esther to ask for her help. She is hesitant at first because it could mean life or death for her to go before her husband, the King. Mordecai's response is:

"do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

- Esther 4:13,14

...for such a time as this...

This has become one of my favorite verses, or sections of a verse. It is a passage that my former boss, Bob used to reiterate to me as well as other students.

I have a confession... I have the tendency to live for the things not yet to come. I am always looking ahead and even when I  get what I think it is I want, I am always looking to the next thing. Sometimes this leads to dissatisfaction and other times I avoid taking advantage of what I have at the moment in order to "plan for the future."

This is hard as a teacher right now, because so much of what I do is planning for what I will be doing. Today for instance, I wanted to be able to do some things, but had to put them aside, in order to make lesson plans for this week (and unfortunately I'm using my blog writing as a way to procrastinate right now).

Today, I was just reminded of this verse as I was sitting in worship. I can't always see what impact I'll have on others, but I know God has placed me here and has great plans for my life.

A dear friend, who I was just getting to know and had just started coming to my church and community group before I left, painted this as a farewell gift, not even realizing what a key verse it is for me!

I have hung it on the wall of my new home here in Ibadan, so that I can be reminded every day that God has me in this place, at this time and at this moment "for such a time as this," and that is something I never want to forget.

God Bless,

Liz