Telling Your Story

I teach a weekly Bible Study and we are studying the book of Esther. Esther seems to be the topic of the times. When I began writing the curriculum for our study over Thanksgiving, I had no idea that Beth Moore was going to have a new study come out of Esther as well. A couple weeks after Christmas, I got a letter from my friend Robert Sterns in Israel, who said he was working on a new book about Esther. Like I said, looks like we have something to learn from Esther.

As we go into our lesson tomorrow Esther is going to approach the king. It is her moment. I can kind of hear the over done beauty pageant version of "This is the Moment" playing on the palace muzak in the background. But something has been stirring in my heart since the Lord placed this study on my heart six months ago. That it is no accident that you and I are alive during this time. We were the ones, chosen before the foundations of the world, to live during this time. With all of its chaos, all of its technology, all of its self-absorption, and all of its desperate need.

And each one of us has a story. Twice before Mordecai has told Esther she can't tell her story. But at the end of Chapter four he makes it clear that this might be the very reason she has come to the kingdom, been chosen as queen. Basically, girl this is your moment and you better show up or your booty is toast. Don't think those palace walls are going to protect you when you're looking destiny in the face and refuse to follow through.

I love a good story. Just got finished reading three good books recently, only one of which has come out yet. It is my book pick for this month, A Hundred Years of Happiness. I love the power of a story. I also love to hear people's stories. Each week in our Bible Study we have a personal testimony. Been a while since you've heard one of those at church? But each week someone comes up after the study and tells how that person's testimony ministered to their hearts. Why? Because we've all got a story.

I started a single's blog called Flying Solo because of the process and story of my divorce. Each week I tell part of my story. We get letters all the time of people's whose lives have been touched because of the stories and personal testimonies that they read each month.

You have a story too you know. A story that someone needs to hear. It doesn't mean you have to get up behind the pulpit Sunday morning and bare your soul, but someone might could stand to hear it over a cup of coffee, at a Thursday night dinner, or over the phone when they've had a really bad day. Your place of encouragement, your moment of crisis, your victory, your challenges, your story...someone needs to hear it.

Someone else could have done Esther's job. Mordecai made that really clear. "Esther, you don't show up, trust me, someone else will be there to do the job." But God wanted to use Esther. He wants to use you and me too. We don't need a theological degree. We just need time and a willing heart...because everyone has a story. Whether you've written a book or not, God has written one with your life. And someone needs, no, is desperate to read it.