Esther 4:14 “For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

I’ve often felt like I was born in the wrong era. If I had my choice, I think I’d choose to have lived during the late 1950s in America. You know, the Andy Griffith days. The days when everyone knew their neighbor, when they had time to sit in rocking chairs on the front porch and sip sweet tea, and when you didn’t have to worry if your child was out riding their bike all over the town. Life was more simple. It was slower. It was safe. Towards the end of last year, I joked with my husband and said, “I no longer dream of raising a family in the 1950s. I’d settle to just go back to 2019!” The past 13 months or so has forever changed the course of the world. This is definitely not the world that I would’ve ever chosen to live in, much less raise my kids in!

These thoughts creep into my heart and mind often. When they do, I find myself sinking into despair. The Lord has so lovingly been whispering to my heart, “Oh my precious child, I have created you and your children for such a time as this.” These are the words I found when reading through the book of Esther. I’m sure the young, virgin, Jewish girl questioned what on earth did God have planned for her future? Everything was going fine, and then forces beyond her control forced her life onto a path she would’ve never have chosen for herself. Where was God in it all? Had He abandoned her? Did He care about the uncertainties and fears that plagued her mind? Though God’s name is never mentioned in the book of Esther, we see His hand guiding in every single detail. The events of Esther’s life were perfectly orchestrated by a loving Father for such a time as this.

God created Esther. He crafted her personality and strengths. As He formed her in her mother’s womb, He knew all that would happen for her to fulfill His purpose for her life. I find a truth in Esther’s life that gives me strength and hope as I am on my own life’s journey. God created me. He crafted my personality and strengths. As He formed me in my mother’s womb, He knew all that would happen for me to fulfill my His purpose for my life. Then, there’s a truth that gives my heart even more hope! God created my children. He crafted their personalities and strengths. As He formed them in my womb, He knew all that would happen for them to fulfill His purpose for their lives.

It is not mistake that I am a young mom in 2021. It is no mistake that my children are growing up during these uncertain times. Simeon and I have been reminding ourselves of this truth often recently. God, in His infinite wisdom, planned from the beginning of time that we would be raising Eden, Knox and Ivy in the midst of this crazy world. Why is that His perfect plan for our family? I don’t have an answer for that. I might not have an answer for that this side of eternity. I do know that I can trust His sovereign design. Instead of weeping about all that my children will have to face in today’s wicked world, I must be intentional and steadfast to raise them to be lights for Christ! When does light shine the brightest? It shines the brightest when it is the darkest. Maybe, just maybe, God will use my babies to accomplish something great for Him. Maybe they’ll be the Esther of today.

As I study Scripture, I realize I’m probably not the only mom to have had these feelings. What about Jacobed as she craned to see if the baby she’d just birthed was a boy or girl. Seeing it was a boy, her heart sank as she knew the life he’d face. From his earliest beginning, she had to hide his existence for fear that her precious son would be killed. Then, having no other choice, she committed that baby to her God and sent him adrift down the Nile. He was rescued. Praise God! But that also meant that he would be brought up in a godless home. Yet, she trusted that God had a plan, and what a plan He had! That little baby would grow up to become Moses, the man that God used to bring His chosen people out of bondage.

Let’s look at another mom from the Bible who had to have wondered how her child would turn out in a world gone wild. Let’s look at Hannah. Infertility had plagued her for years. To make matters worse, her husband’s other wife had many children, and she made sure Hannah knew it. Hannah pleaded with the Lord to give her a son, one that she promised to give back to Him. God answered her prayer, and Samuel was born. I have to wonder what went through Hannah’s mind as she rocked her precious gift. Finally, she had her answer to so many prayers. She knew she had promised to give him back to the Lord. It doesn’t take much reading to see the spiritual condition of Eli the priest, his sons, and the temple. The place that was supposed to be holy had been desecrated with sin. Prostitution, drunkenness and complete disregard for God’s commands were rampant. How could turning her son over to this situation be giving him back to God? She didn’t understand, but she trusted. In the midst of blatant wickedness, Samuel grew to become a strong in his faith. He was a faithful prophet who God used to turn the hearts of many towards Him.

A New Testament mama that comes to mind is Mary. The prophet Simeon told her in the first days of motherhood that a sword would pierce her soul (Luke 2:35). While it was such an honor that out of all mothers, God chose Mary to be the mother of His Son, it would not come without it’s wounds. Mary gave birth to the Saviour of the world, and almost immediately Satan began his attempt to thwart God’s plan. From Herod’s edict, to the many whispers of the questionable nature of Christ’s conception, all the way to his death on the cross, Mary had to wonder what was God doing? Why were the very people her Son came to save the ones who were seeking His destruction. Then they laid Christ in the tomb. It didn’t make sense! I’m sure that is not the story Mary would’ve written for her Son. But God was up to something amazing- something He had planned from the foundation of the world. In the midst of spiritual darkness, Christ enters the world and makes a way for all mankind to have reconciliation with God the Father.

These are all women who had a desire to raise their children for the Lord, but it seemed as though the world was taking that from them. Instead of wallowing in discouragement and pity, these women immersed their hearts in truth, placed their trust in God and gave their all to raise their children for the glory of the Lord. If those efforts were able to turn out children like Moses, Samuel and Jesus, we can have faith that they’ll do the same today. Why? Because our God never changes. The secret to the success of those mothers was that they pointed their children to God!

Take heart mama! These are days filled with opportunity and hope. God is at work in this world. Why would we work so hard to raise warriors and then despair that they have an enemy to face? Is that not what the point of all our training is? These little ones will not always be little. It’s our prayer that our little soldiers will grow to be strong warriors. Let’s trust God, gird up our loins and raise the next generation to stand like the saints of old. The God who gave Esther the courage to stand before a heathen king unannounced is the same God who will fill our children’s hearts with courage as they face a heathen world. The God who gave Moses the faith to follow Him in spite of opposition is the same God who will give our children the faith to follow Him in spite of the enemies that surround them. The God who gave Samuel the integrity and character to be righteous in the midst of perversion is the same God who will build strong character in our children that they be not derailed by wickedness and sin. The God who gave His only begotten Son to redeem the soul’s of our children is the same God who has a specific plan and purpose for them today.

Remember, when it feels as though the weights of the world are going to crush your mama heart, we and our children were created for such a time as this!

You can listen to Brettnay share more on this thought on episode 6 of the No Higher Calling podcast.