I sat in my favorite coffee shop at the counter, my Esther Bible study in front of me next to a coffee cake and an iced caramel latte.  My mind was a whirl of emotions and doubts and confusion.  Where I thought I would be at this point in my life was far different from where I was, sitting in a coffee shop between working two shifts at the daycare.  I felt like I was doing a whole bunch of different little things, and I couldn’t see what God was doing with all my little avenues of life.  Many times I’ve wondered if I was really doing what God was calling me to do or if I was just making it all up.  This was one of those moments.

Then the Bible study book opened by asking readers to spend five minutes in silence before the Lord, listening.  With my whirling thoughts, it felt impossible to sit silently before God.  But I was going to do my best.  So, I tuned out my anxious thoughts.  Allowed my ears to hear the gurgle of the espresso machine, the din of quiet voices echoing off the walls, the gentle ring of the bell each time the door opened and closed.  And the Lord spoke softly to my heart that right here, in the middle of my many avenues of life, was right where He wanted me to be.  He reassured me of all the ways He was working through my life, and my eyes filled with tears as the weight of my worry lifted off my tired shoulders.  I am here for such a time as this. 

The final major takeaway I had from my study of Esther was the ever-popular phrase spoken by Mordecai in Esther 4:13-14 (NASB):

Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews. 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?”

For such a time as this. 

I’m rather sentimental.  I love learning about history, and it’s easy for me to look back in history and see all the beauty of the slower pace of life and the strengths of the church back then and wish that I had been born in another era.  Sometimes I feel like I don’t really fit in with this modern day.  I’ve seen similar sentiments among homemaking accounts on social media.  I enjoy following homemaking accounts and daydreaming about having my own home and family someday.  I love how the homemaking community emphasizes traditional family values and teaches practical, old-fashioned homemaking skills, such as making homemade foods.  But I’ve noticed an interesting trend in this community where many women go all-in to dressing and living as though they are from the 1950s (aside from their ample social media usage).  I think somewhere along the line many women, including me, have bought into the lie that it would have been better to live in another era.  That we were born in the wrong era.  That we’re not here for such a time as this. 

Satan will do anything to try to get us off track from our purpose as believers, namely, to go into all the world making disciples of Christ (see Matt. 28:19-20).  If we are constantly pining after a former generation, then we are not viewing our current generation as our mission field. 

Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:36-38

This passage so adequately describes GenZ today.  It is distressed, dispirited, without a shepherd.  But the harvest is plentiful!  So, who will the Lord send out as workers into His field? 

We are here, in this generation, for such a time as this.  We are here and now for a purpose; who knows what God has placed us here for?  Maybe for an Esther-sized moment; maybe as a leader in government or in the church.  Or maybe for the neighbors next door; maybe for the everyday service that shapes our children.  Whatever the case, do not spend your life pining for another era!  The Lord has you here and now for a purpose; whether you are a vessel for honorable use or common use is up to God, not you (Rom. 9:21).  Your place in history was His doing, so be grateful for it!  Live boldly in the here and now, for His honor and glory. 

I encourage you to spend time in silence before the Lord.  Ask Him to reveal to you where He has called you to serve Him right now.  You don’t have to wait until you’re married with children or forty-five or have a particular degree.  If you’re a Christian, then you’re called to serve Him today.  And again tomorrow and the next day.  And He will equip you with everything you need for today.  Trust Him and let Him lead you.  He will never fail you. 

With love,

Kelsey