For Such A Time As This
I like my job. I get the opportunity to help other people succeed. I get the chance to support other people. And I have the privilege of setting a tone and example for others to follow. I confess that I don’t always get it right. But I do pride myself on living with integrity and making decisions that represent Godly values and character.
Being in a management role, I have the honor of walking alongside team members as they celebrate the joys of life, but I sometimes have to provide support through their tough times as well. Yesterday, I received some tough news from one of my team members. He and his family are facing a very challenging time. My heart was heavy yesterday when I got the news. My thoughts and prayers have been with this family yesterday and today.
I don’t know what role I will have in the whole process. But I do know that I will have a chance to provide workplace support to this individual as he focuses on what really matters at home right now. Perhaps, I was put in my position a few years ago for just this time. I pray that for them, and I also pray that I can lead in a way that draws others close to God.
As I’ve been processing this news over the past twenty-four hours, I was reminded of the story of Esther. Esther was given a chance to be queen at a time when her people (the Jews) were facing persecution. As a Jew herself, Esther had the opportunity to speak to the king and to sway him to protect the Jewish people. The story is much more detailed than my explanation, but the gist of the story is that Esther was made queen at just the right time. This verse from Esther 4:14 echoes this thought:
“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
Obviously, my position in management at my company is not quite the same as Esther’s position of queen, but I’m reminded that God can use us where we are at home, at work, in school, in the community. Are we open to being used by God for His glory?
Where does God have you right now? How do you sense that God may be using your current position in life to bring Him glory?