Lessons from Esther/ Being Still

A couple of months back, two of my best friends and I were doing a bible study on Ruth. One of the verses that stood out to me most was verse 18 of chapter 3:

“Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.”

It's so hard to sit still sometimes! Especially when you are anxious about something. But sometimes we just need to slow down and accept that we can't do anything to change our situations. If we can't change it then why worry? Worrying only makes things harder. Paul said that he learned to be content in any situation he was in. ( Philippians 4:11) The truth is, God has given us everything we need. He says with food and clothing to be content! (1 Timothy 6:6-8)

I think that being still and being content can go hand in hand. I myself struggle in this area. Of course, it's not wrong if you notice the bad and don't like the situation you are in. But it shouldn't consume you. There's a difference between being content and being happy. God doesn't tell us to be happy. He says to be content. It’s important to learn this because if we are only looking to the future and wishing time would go faster, or that circumstances would change, we aren’t really focusing on what we can do right NOW in the season or time that we are in. We become unaware of all the good we can do for the Lord NOW. We become oblivious to what God might be trying to teach us in the hard times. And I think that when you slow down and really look around you, there’s so much that you can do for the Lord and others! We might not like our circumstances, but God can use them for good and He might have put us in that situation for a reason. To teach us something or to help others.

Think about Esther! She didn't like her circumstances and she didn't understand. But what about if she had not become queen? All the Jews would have been murdered had Esther not revealed Haman's plans.

Here's another example of being content, specifically when it comes to seasons of waiting. Some of God’s greatest gifts to His followers took the longest to receive. Remember how Abraham and Sarah had to wait several years before they had Isaac? God didn't make them wait for no reason. He wanted to see if they would trust Him and believe that He would do as He said.

In the end, it comes down to having faith and trust in the Lord. Faith that He knows what is best for us. It may seem unfair sometimes that we have to wait and it may seem unfair that we are in uncomfortable circumstances, but God’s ways are far above our ways. Sometimes waiting is more beneficial to our spiritual lives than if God were to just give us whatever we ask, whenever we want it. We wouldn’t need faith in that case.

Who knows? Perhaps you have been placed in this season of your life for such a time as this. (Esther 4:14)

Related Bible Verses:

Psalms 46:10

Matthew 6:31-32

Hebrews 13:5