"When Mordecai learned
of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and
went out to the city wailing loudly and bitterly.” – Esther 4:1
In Esther Chapter 3, King Xerxes raised up Haman. As a
result of his new stature, Haman commanded that everyone bow down to him.
Mordecai, however, refused. Shortly thereafter, Haman convinced King Xerxes to
enter a decree. After Mordecai learned of the decree that all Jews be killed by
a specified date, his heart sank. He was brought to a moment of emotional and
spiritual weakness due to his impending death. He knew this was a time that he
didn’t have any answers on his own. Instead, this was a time for Mordecai to
draw nearer to God. The sackcloth and
ashes that Mordecai exchanged his clothes for were a symbol of apology and
mourning.
God allows some things to happen as a way of opening our
eyes. Have you ever had a situation in your life where God called you nearer to
him? A time when your spirit was broken to the point where you weren’t sure it
could be repaired? Situations of homelessness, adultery, death, unemployment,
or illness can sometimes catch us off guard. The times when gut-wrenching heartaches
were upon you. Those are the times when we are to draw nearer to God and listen
for His still small voice. God uses many of those situations to bring light to
a dark place. To increase awareness of our wrongdoings, those both in thought
and in action. To strengthen the weakest parts of us.
How do you handle those times? Do you become a hermit and
hide until God seeks you? Do you seek out God with your whole heart? Mordecai
knew that he needed God’s grace and guidance in that very moment and was not
afraid to make a public display of his needs. The same can be true for you.
Know that you are never alone. Push pride aside long enough to know you can
come into agreement with. There’s someone out there with the same pain. When
God says so, be ready to repent and share.
Comments
Post a Comment