For Such a Time as This

". . . And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14

In my journey through the Bible, I am currently reading the book of Esther. Interestingly, Esther is the only book in the Bible that never mentions the name of God, but in reading it, one can see His hand throughout the book.

Esther, an orphaned Jew, suddenly finds herself in the position of queen in Persia. A plot is made to kill all the Jews, and Esther must take a stand to save her people, knowing that she could be killed in the process.

One of my favorite verses is the one above, ". . . And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"
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This brings up a question that has been argued throughout history: did God plan every aspect of our lives before the beginning of time? Did He place Esther in her position just so she could save her people? I believe He did, and I believe He has a plan for our lives too.
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Do you ever get discouraged or mad when things don't go as you planned them? Do you ever stop and think that maybe God has a greater plan to put you where He needs you, or to keep you from a place of danger? Sometimes it's hard to think in these terms when we want things the way we want them, but I believe in my heart that it is true. At times we can look back and see exactly what God was doing, and at other times we may never understand in this lifetime.
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My challenge to you is to try to see things from this perspective. Remind yourself that God has a plan, and you have a part in it. It may not always be exactly the same as your plan, but it is actually far better!
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This Wayne Watson song is one of my favorites:

Incidentally, Esther, the lowly orphan, was able to save her people. Jews now celebrate Purim to remind them of this event. Our role in God's plan may not go down in history the way Esther's did, but He still uses us. He has us where we are "for such a time as this."