For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Esther 4:14 (NKJV)

Many Christians like to quote this verse and claim it for themselves, reasoning that each of us was born for such a time as this. It is indeed an encouraging reminder that God is truly a strategic God. He doesn’t just create people without thought or purpose. Each of us was uniquely designed and placed on the earth with specific assignments for the time in which we live. It is comforting to remember that we were fashioned with a purpose in mind. It shows us that our lives have meaning and significance. We have a God-ordained destiny.

What many fail to consider is that Esther was strategically placed in position for such a time, but she had to risk her very life to fulfill her God-given assignment. The Jews, who were in captivity in Babylon were in danger of extermination. Esther had been made the queen and was uniquely positioned to save her people. However, she risked execution if she were to appear before the king without being summoned by him.

“Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” Esther 4:16 (NKJV)

The queen fasted and prayed and asked her fellow Jews to do the same. At the end of three days, she went to see the king. Imagine the fear she had to overcome in order to do this. Her relationship with the king was not all warm and fuzzy like we think of many marriages being. Queen Esther’s life was not her own. She belonged to the king, similar to a servant. She was expected to do His bidding- when He asked for her. However, she decided that her own life was not as important as the saving of her people. She was willing to lay her life down for others. In the end, the Lord gave her favor, her life was spared, and the Jews were saved.

Yes, we are born for such a time as this. We are strategically placed in this particular time period for the plans and purposes of God. However, we are not our own. We belong to King Jesus. And we must be willing to sacrifice in order to accomplish what God has put us here to do- possibly even laying down our lives. Granted, God wants to give us a good life and He wants us to enjoy our lives, but He placed us here with a destiny. We have a divine mandate to accomplish His purposes in the earth. Prepare your heart and make up your mind that your life is available for Him to do as He pleases. As a result, you will fulfill your destiny and will one day hear these words from the Lord Himself, “Well done.”

“Commending his servant, the master replied, ‘You have done well, and proven yourself to be my loyal and trustworthy servant. Because you have been a faithful steward to manage a small sum, now I will put you in charge of much, much more. You will experience the delight of your master, who will say to you, “Come celebrate with me!”’ Matthew 25:21 (The Passion Translation, TPT)

You have come to the Kingdom for such a time as this, so commit to doing the Lord’s will no matter what. I guarantee that it will be well worth the sacrifce.