The Whole Magilla

I have just finished a 10 week in-depth study on the book of Esther and it was outstanding! Such a great study of seeing the hand of God and work when you can't see His face. A book of providence and destiny. Who knows if it was written for such a time as this?

The title of this series is It's Tough Being a Woman. We took seven scenarios about the difficulties of being a woman that Esther faced and applied them to our own lives and sought the Word for how God might turn the tables on these settings in our own lives.

We learned that it's faith that reverses the detours of adversity into highways of destiny.

Scenario #1 - over shadowed

It's tough being a woman in another womans shadow.

The Turn-Around

No body is big enough to shadow God's shadow.

Psalm 91:1 - He who dwells in the shelter of the most high will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Scenario #2 - underrated

It's tough being a woman in a world where beauty is a treatment. (Amen anyone??)

The Turn-Around

In man's realm, time diminishes beauty, in God's realm beauty is a destiny.

Ecclesties 3:11 -He has made everything beautiful in it's time.

Scenario #3 - overwrought

It's tough being a woman in a mean world (and not get mean with it).

The Turn-Around

In a mean world, New Testament believers are called to a good fight.

1 Timothy 1:18 -I gave you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. (Also see Eph 2:10)

Scenario #4 - under qualified

It's tough being a woman thrown a giant size weight.

The Turn-Around

Trade your weight for a weapon.

1 Peter 5:7 - Cast your cares on Him for He cares for you. (Also see Deut. 23:3-5)

Scenario #5 - under attack

It's tough being a woman in the tight fist of fear.

The Turn-Around

When you are in a tight fist of fear, remember you're in something much tighter.

Isaiah 49:16 - See I have engraved you in the palm of my hands. (Also see Ps 13910)

Scenario #6 - over anxious

It's tough being a woman who can balance passion with patience.

The Turn-Around

God's patience always involves His passion.

Isaiah 30:18 - Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all those who wait for him.

Scenarios #7 - over responsible

It's tough being a woman who feels responsible for the "how."

The Turn-Around

The Lord knows how.

2 Peter 2:9 -The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgement. (Also see Ps 103:14)

Whew, isn't our God amazing?? Praise his name, He not only gives us an answer for our struggles, He is the answer! He is into the business of reversal of destines and is working in every detail. His providence cancels out every coincidence and in Christ all's well that ends well becase He emphatically does all things well.

Our study appropriately ended with this verse: "God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes" (Psalm 18:24 - The Message)