This podcast covers Lesson 11 of Everyday Women, Ever-Faithful God Bible Study by Melanie Newton.
Esther—The Two Aspects of Trusting God
Trust God as you step forward to do your part His way; trust Him to do His part alongside what you are doing.
Has God placed something in your heart for you to do? Whatever it is involves two aspects of trusting God. 1) You must trust Him as you step forward and do your part His way. And, 2) you must trust Him to do His part in the areas over which you have no control. Those two aspects of trusting God are necessary to act on whatever God has placed in your heart to do. Esther’s story provides a beautiful illustration of this for us.
The seed is planted in the heart
- Mordecai gave Esther some not-so-good news. All the Jews would be killed in 11 months. Her life would not likely be spared. Then, he challenged her with the message that she was in the God-chosen place to do something about the peril facing herself, her family, and her people. God placed this on her heart.
- Esther prayed about this for 3 days, calling other Jews to pray with her. She needed God’s guidance about what to do next. Before she approached the king of Persia about this, Esther needed God to be with her as she did her part (which was to speak to the king). And, she needed God to do his part in directing the heart and mind of the king to receive her. Those are the two aspects of trusting God.
- Learning to live dependently on our God is not a matter of doing whatever you ethically and honorably can while trusting the rest to God. When God places something in your heart to do, especially when it involves someone else and situations over which you have no control, you must trust God to lead you in what you choose to do. You want to do your part his way, not your own way or the world’s way
The time has come to act
- After that time of prayer, Esther knew the time had come to act. Trusting God, she did her part by approaching the king the right way, making sure he could see her, and waiting for his response. She didn’t force herself into the king’s presence, demanding his attention. No, she did her part the way God would want her to show respect for her husband, the king.
- God took care of his part by directing the king’s heart and mind to be favorable to Esther’s presence and her request. He invited her into the chamber and asked what she wanted from him. Esther’s part was to invite the king and Haman to a banquet. God worked through the king to grant Esther’s request and accept her invitation. Those are the two aspects of trusting God.
Opposition tested Esther’s trust
- Completely trusting God and doing things God’s way doesn’t stop the opposition. Esther’s invitation included Haman, the one who initiated the attack on the Jews. That didn’t discourage Esther from doing what God had placed in her heart to do. She knew she would be in the presence of someone who hated her people and would have hated her if he knew she was Jewish. His pleading with her during the second banquet in such a familiar manner threatened her position with her husband, the king.
- God didn’t make it easy for Esther to do what he called her to do. Yet, she did her part God’s way while trusting that God would do his part in making the king’s heart respond favorably to her request to save her people.
- Learning to live dependently on our God does not guarantee that he will stop the opposition against you. Yes, He places that desire in your heart. He wants you to be obedient in carrying it out. But, He doesn’t necessarily make it easy. Why doesn’t God stop the opposition?
“But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.” (2 Corinthians 1:9)
- This happened (suffering, hardship, opposition, whatever it is) so we will learn to rely on God more than on ourselves. Not to sit back and do nothing while waiting for God to do everything. Although, sometimes we need to pray and wait for the right moment to act as Esther did. That is still trusting him while we are doing our part (waiting and praying, asking for guidance), knowing that he is working on his part (whatever that situation requires). Those are the two aspects of trusting God.
What has God placed on your heart to do for others?
- Is it raising children to know and love him and choose to follow him as adults? Trust him to lead you to follow godly child-rearing principles and actions while trusting him to work in the hearts of your children.
- Is it managing people or a project at work? Trust God to lead you to act with honesty and integrity among your fellow employees and managers while trusting him to work in the hearts of those around you.
- Is it serving in a local ministry with teens or special needs or homeless people? Whatever it is, trust God to lead you to speak and act with compassion while trusting him to work to meet the needs of those you are serving.
Whatever it is, trust God to show you how to do your part His way. And, trust Him to do His part alongside what you are doing.
Celebrate the victories! That’s how you walk from fear to faith.
Joyful Walk Bible Studies by Melanie Newton are available through Amazon and Barnes and Noble.