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Is there a season or circumstance that may be happening right now where God is calling you to step out, to say something, to be an agent of change, to support the people around you? Whatever that circumstance is for you, I want you to consider the importance of context. Context is something that we often take for granted or forget to consider, especially if our circumstance is immediate and possibly causing us a lot of pressure. We have to get this done now. We need a solution in place. And we fail to consider context. That often can cause damage to our relationships that can actually create a solution that is not long term or more damaging than we had hoped.
Looking at Esther’s story, one of the things that is so important is when her cousin Mordecai first comes to her to let her know that there is someone out there who wants to obliterate their people. And when this message is sent to Esther it comes through the people around her. Mordecai doesn’t come directly to Esther, and Esther needs some clarification.
Sometimes when we are faced with an obstacle or a solution one of our first responses might be to immediately go to someone—the source of the problem or the person in charge—and ask for help, support, or clarity. But what we see Esther do here is so important.
When she first becomes aware of Mordecai’s distress, and he can’t come to her because under the Persian law he is in mourning, she is beside herself. She wants to know what is happening, what is going on and what is troubling Mordecai. So, she actually sends clothes for him to change so that under the law he could come to her. But he objects. When we are in those seasons when we act on a situation, especially in an emergency, and things don’t go as we had planned, we immediately push back. And yet Esther pauses. She chooses to respect Mordecai’s decision. She considers the context of the situation. You know what she does next? She flexes in her approach.
So, as you are facing a difficult season or circumstance and you are being called to step out in boldness and courage, I want you to consider the context of your circumstance and be open to flexibility.