Are We There Yet? Devotional by UnitedChikamu

TITLE: Days Like These

LYRIC:“See the end of the night, see the light before our eyes, no more sorrow no more pain, all our tears will fade away.” - Days Like These (Trust U)

SCRIPTURES:

• Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
• Revelation 21:4-6 NIV
• Romans 15:13 NIV

DEVOTIONAL:

The story of Esther is one of a time riddled with trouble for God’s people. They faced a number of threats while in exile—the most pressing was a threat of destruction and genocide at the hands of wicked people in power. However, Esther, a Jew, was appointed Queen during this complicated time in Israel’s history. This is where we see a popular passage of Scripture in the book of Esther. Mordecai, a faithful Israelite aware of the dangerous position the people of God were in, says to the queen: “...who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14b NIV). As the end of the story shows, it truly was, “for such a time as this” that Esther was made Queen. She used the position God had given her to ultimately protect His people from certain death.

So often in life, we can find ourselves unsure about what to do in “days like these”—the days we find ourselves in. We look at the world around us and see clearly the pain and devastation of people desperately in need of hope. But it is, in fact, “days like these” that God has created us to live in. In other words, for such a time as this. In the midst of everything that takes place in this world, we are never without the hope of God. The cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ have made this so. Romans 15:13 (NIV) says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” As we put our faith and trust in Christ, we not only have hope for this life but also in the promise of eternity. Revelation 21:4 (NIV) says, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Like Esther, we can serve God (and others) from the positions we find ourselves in. We have the opportunity to bring the hope we have to others: to tell of the faithfulness of God, the good news of the Gospel, and the future of eternity. We live in an in-between time, having hope in this life, and looking to all that God has promised us ahead. It is in this place and in this time that God has called us to live. As we await the future hope of Heaven, we can hold to the hope we have now, knowing we are positioned by God “for such a time as this”.