AVAAT

A VERSE AT A TIME

TOPIC: Rediscovering Identity and Purpose

TEXT: Esther 4:13-17

KEY VERSE: For if you fail to speak up now, relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from a different direction; but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows whether you didn’t come into your royal position precisely for such a time as this.” Esther 4:14(CJB)

Your Purpose is to live the life God created for you, serve Him, love others, make disciples, fulfil His plans for you, be empowered by the Holy Spirit, and live out your faith in obedience. God created man and had a vision of who he would be and what he would do on Earth. The creation of the woman was to complement man’s mission in the Garden of Eden. This understanding is the foundation of the subject of Identity and Purpose.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10, NIV).

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV).

“Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them” (Isaiah 43:7, NLT).

Your family of origin plays a crucial role in shaping your identity. The environment you grow up in influences how you view yourself. If you are born into poverty, it can lead to low self-esteem and a lack of self-worth. Living in poverty can make you feel ashamed and inadequate, questioning your value and Purpose. Separating your sense of self from your circumstances is difficult when living in poverty. Both Gideon, Saul and David felt that way about themselves at some point, but David redefined himself.

But Gideon answered and said, “Pardon me, sir. How can I save Israel? My family group is the weakest in the tribe of Manasseh, and I am the youngest one in my family.” Judges 6:15(ERV)

Saul answered, “But I am a member of the tribe of Benjamin. It is the smallest tribe in Israel. And my family is the smallest in the tribe of Benjamin. Why do you say Israel wants me?” 1 Samuel 9:21(ERV)

“The Lord, the God of Israel, chose the tribe of Judah to lead the twelve tribes of Israel. Then from that tribe he chose my father’s family. And from that family, he chose me to be the king of Israel forever. Yes, God wanted to make me king of Israel. 1Chronicles 28:4(ERV)

Esther faced a challenging situation as she lost her parents at a young age. Her uncle Mordecai, who worked as a gatekeeper, raised her. Given her circumstances, she was unlikely to dream of becoming royalty in their foreign land. However, by God’s orchestrated plan, she became the queen of Shushan.

 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.Esther 2:17(KJV)

God had a purpose for sending Esther to the palace. Soon after her coronation, Haman plotted to kill all the Jews, and no one was there to speak in their defence. At this point, Mordecai called on Esther to act in their defence, but she was too afraid to act. She feared for her life. However, Mordecai, who had mentored her, reminded her that God may have made her queen to deliver the Jews.

Esther had still kept it a secret that she was a Jew. She had not told anyone about her family background. This is what Mordecai had told her to do. She still obeyed Mordecai just as she had done when he cared for her. Esther 2:20(ERV)

Now is a great time to reflect on your journey and connect the dots to understand what God wants to achieve through you, regardless of your background and past struggles. Joseph saw his rise to power in Egypt as a part of God’s plan to save his family during the famine rather than just a personal victory. Redefining your identity requires embracing God’s design rather than accepting who you have become due to the circumstances of life.

Now, don’t be worried. Don’t be angry with yourselves for what you did. It was God’s plan for me to come here. I am here to save people’s lives. Genesis 45:5(ERV)

Joseph’s ability to focus on his strengths and his desire to serve others in any circumstances helps him rediscover his Purpose beyond his pain. Do you have a passion that persists in your heart despite your attempts to suppress it? Is there a group of people you feel called to serve? Answering these questions could be the starting point of discovering your true self.

The Holy Spirit knows God’s plans for you in this season. Devote your time to learning from Him who you are designed to be.

Reflection Questions

1. What actions does this devotion inspire you to take?

2. What negative experiences from your past have impacted your self-worth?

3. Is there any scripture that you find encouraging for a bright future?

4. Who in your life can serve as a person like Mordecai did in the text?

Photo by Caroline Veronez on Unsplash