I am currently writing my way through the book of Esther, found in the bible (click here for previous post.)

This blog post focuses on Esther, chapter 4. I have three quick, takeaway questions to help you get ‘unstuck.’

Thing is, we can so easily get stuck in overwhelm, disconnect or disappointment. But time and time again I have marvelled, as God always pulls me out of those sticky places!

Let my words be a little nudge to you today; Allow God to scoop you out of that rut! Ask yourself hard questions and take one small step towards everything He has for you today.

1. What is your motive?

Imagine a man. A respectable man. He is known by our queen as a great guy.

Now imagine this same man tearing his clothes. He is wiping ashes all over himself and wearing a rough fabric make from some sort of goat hair. Oh, and he is wailing. Loudly.

That’s the kind of scene we find in Esther, chapter 4.

Mordecai learns of royal plans for his people to be annihilated. He therefore wears a sackcloth and wails loudly. So much so that people talk about him and report his behaviour to their Queen Esther.

What does Esther do about her loud, wailing cousin? The bible says:

She sent clothes for [Mordecai] to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them.

Esther 4: 4, NIV.

Oh, Esther. I can relate.

Sometimes I try and get my kids to fit in. If they are shouting loudly in a quiet place I immediately “Shhh” them!

“Be quiet, kids!” I whisper.

In other words: “I am embarrassed, kids. I need you to comply with what I think looks and sounds culturally acceptable here. Quickly.”

Yet, in the story of Esther, Mordecai refuses Esther’s clothes. He doesn’t comply.

Esther then asks her cousin a simple question: Why?

That is something I struggle to do. I want my kids to comply, I don’t often pause and wonder what’s causing their distress. What’s behind their behaviour? What’s making them act like that?

More to the point… I very rarely wonder what’s behind my behaviour! What’s causing me to feel a certain way or to act a certain way?

I think now is the time to ask ourselves one small question: “Why?”

In other words: What is your motive?

Thing is: I am sat here in a coffee shop with a pile of things I could work on. For instance, I want to work on this blog – I want to make the site look better, I want to work on my writing, improve my voice. I’d like to make an Instagram account for it.

But: Why?

Why am I here in this coffee shop tap, tap, tapping away? What is my motive here?

I’m here because I am saying yes to whatever God has for life. Because I want to allow for space in my life to listen to him. Writing this blog is a by-product of that.

Some of you might have spotted some selfish motives. Some of you might be fleeing responsibility. Some of you might be doing something because you feel you ought to.

I’m not trying to shame you, just to let you know that you are seen. Your motives are seen by God and that’s a good thing because He has so much grace for you.

Once you identify your motive, things get easier. A good motive sets you free from all the shoulds and oughts. A negative motive, once identified, can be swapped for a positive one.

2. Are you seeking wisdom from the older generation?

We need older people!

In Esther 4, Mordecai asks Esther to ask the king to spare the lives of her people. Esther originally tells Mordecai she cannot go to the king. She explains that it is actually against the law to go to the king, without being called by him directly. Mordecai says:

Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 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?”

Esther 4: 13-14, NIV.

Some of us might be living with very little accountability.

Are we seeking opinions from people 10, 20 or 30 years older than ourselves? Or are we just focusing on what our peers are saying?

Are we allowing for correction in our lives?

Sometimes, speaking to those that are a season or two ahead of me really helps.

• It helps because it gives me vision. A hope for my future.
• It helps because by speaking to someone ahead of me I give eyes to those blind spots I have.
• It helps because it ensures I don’t become independent.

Community matters. Inter-generational community really matters.

Time and time again, speaking to mature Christians has been the number one thing that has got me unstuck.

The bible says:

“There is nothing new under the sun”

Ecclesiastes 1:9, NIV.

What does that mean?

Well, chances are there is someone ahead of you that has struggled with the same things you are struggling with.

Go find those people and be encouraged by them.

If you don’t know where to start ask God and text the very first person that comes to your mind when you pray. Don’t let a fear of what will they say stop you. You won’t know what they say until you ask!

3. Are you helping the younger generation?

Esther 4 ends like this:

[Esther instructed Mordecai:] “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.

Esther 4: 16-17, NIV, my brackets and emphasis.

Mordecai is the oldest of the pair; he is more mature. Yet, it is he who carries out Esther’s instructions.

She is in the position of worldly authority, as Queen. But, he honours her, even though she is younger.

It strikes me that this is an example of the proverb: “Train a child up in the way they should go” (Proverbs 22:6)

We need to help the younger generation with the decision-making, but we need to let them be the ones to make the decision.

And when they ask for support – give it. Be humble and empower them by following their instructions.

Maybe you have little ones, as I do.

I really want my kids to know Jesus. I want to set them up for a brilliant, abundant life.

Esther, chapter 4 really makes me wonder – Am I humbling myself? Am I coming alongside my kids? Am I letting them lead their lives rather than just making all of their decisions for them?

Maybe you don’t have kids but you are in a work situation and the temptation is to micro-manage.

Perhaps this bible passage is a prompt to lead differently?

To get alongside them rather than take decisions away from them? This one thing could get you completely unstuck and realign you to a new and refreshing “upside-down” way of training.

I have found that God’s kingdom does seem a bit upside-down, compared to the ways of the world. And that’s a good thing.

We get stuck when we try to pattern-match the world. Maybe asking yourself how you can benefit those younger than you is your key to moving forward today?

Conclusion

As I close this I realise that I am in a season of getting unstuck. I am re-arranging plans, re-adjusting my course and it is not super-easy.

But, it is rewarding.

I feel more like… me. Just being here, in a coffee shop, writing to you – This is what I am called to. But I didn’t get to this place without asking hard questions, teaming up with wiser people and leading God’s way.

Praying for you this week as we re-align, get unstuck and keep pressing closer towards all that Jesus is and has.