Several years ago I attended a reunion of my youth group. It had been about twenty five years since I had spoken to most of them. A few remembered me but there were others that needed a little jog to their memory. I discovered a little something from that event, while time marched on, there were ways that I didn’t. I was holding onto a perception of my history that kept me living there. Now, there is nothing wrong with loving the memory of things gone by, just as long as it is not holding you to a season that has been completed.
Recently, I heard a brief message that spoke to this. I was challenged by this simple phrase, “you feel like you’re stuck, but God says “you’re sent”. Each of us have moments we walk through that cause us to yearn for a simpler time. Especially when we feel like we are in an endless scene of “Groundhog Day”. Unlike that movie, God won’t force us to relive a day in order for us to get it right. However, our lessons are sometimes learned by repetition. This may cause us to feel like we are stuck.
But God says, “you are sent”! What if living where we love meant that God sent us to a particular season for purpose? Not with an objective to fix us or teach us a lesson, but because what we carry will bring life. I’m thinking of Esther in the Bible. A young Hebrew women, taken from her Uncle Mordecai to be paraded in front of a king that wanted to replace his wife. She went through a year long process of beauty treatments to address flaws before she would even be presented to the King Ahasuerus (Xerxes). I wonder if she felt like she would do anything significant while in that place. It couldn’t have been comfortable and she may have even felt stuck in her new way of life. She didn’t even love this man and now she is being compelled to improve her appearance and adjust to a different culture. For what?!
She was sent. A terrible plan had been cooked up by a man named Haman to kill God’s people, the Jews. Esther, a Jew, was positioned to stand in the way of the annihilation of a people. She probably didn’t love her circumstances, but she loved her people and heritage. Her destiny was brought forth as she left the comfort of her home and she found her voice in the midst of incredible pressure.
For if you remain silent at this time, liberation and rescue will arise for the Jews from another place, and you and your father’s house will perish [since you did not help when you had the chance]. And who knows whether you have attained royalty for such a time as this [and for this very purpose]?” Esther 4:14 (AMP)
Esther sent word to her people and rallied them to fast and pray. From this wisdom came victory over the enemy Haman. By the way, Haman ended up being executed on the same gallows he intended for Esther’s uncle.
Loved ones, you have been sent too. God has paved a way on roads you wish you never traveled. You are not stuck in the past or swirling in a revolving door that never opens. You have been sent to live where you love. It may be people, a place or a dream yet to come true but you are there for a purpose. God’s intention is to see you fulfilled in your heart and show the glory of the Lord for such a time as this.
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