Year of Realization - Day 4: God puts down one and puts up another.

“So if it please the king, we suggest that you issue a written decree, a law of the Persians and Medes that cannot be revoked. It should order that Queen Vashti be forever banished from the presence of King Xerxes, and that the king should choose another queen more worthy than she.”

‭‭Esther‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When I was a little girl I loved working little hand puzzles consisting of a plastic frame within which there were sliding tiles. The object was to slide the tiles around to get numbers in the right order or make a picture look right. When working the puzzle, you never could just start out putting all the numbers, or parts of the picture, where they needed to be. There was a process you went through in which you were lining up all of the tiles in such a way that they would be able to be put into the right place. It was not unusual to nearly have it right and see that you had to rearrange several of the tiles—getting them out of order—to get the last part of it all in place.

My experience with this little handheld puzzle is actually a good example of how the working of the will and purposes of God for our life may look at times.

Going back to the example of Joseph we see that his path took several turns that looked like setbacks. But although the situation, or the circumstances, presented a setback for him, he was actually being set up or lined up to be put where he needed to be.

As we talked about yesterday, often those circumstances lining us up for our purpose and God‘s will, will be seen as contrary.

For today’s purposes we will focus on the aspect of one being put down while another is put up: God’s “seesaw.”

Now, in our opening scripture we see that Vashti has been rejected as Queen. The backstory is that she refused a direct request by King Ahasuerus to come to a party wearing her crown, so that he could show her off. Having consulted the wisemen as to what he should do about her insolence, he received the advice we see in the opening scripture.

Now, one queen: Vashti, is being moved out of the way (or set down) so that another: Esther, could be installed.

As we look at this particular move of one being put down with another being put up, it makes perfect sense: the “good guy” is being exalted to fulfill their purpose.

At the same time, even being put down (as in the case of Joseph) can be lining you up to put you in the place you need to be.

What are we to glean or take away from these scenarios? If your life is in God’s hands, whether it looks like you’re being put up or down in terms of position, you’re always in an ongoing process of being “set up” for the place God has for you to be.

Therefore, knowing that God is the One Who is putting down and putting up, we should be at peace and rejoice wherever we find ourselves. We can know that as long as we remain in the Lord’s hand, submitted to His will, we will get to where we need to be!

Remember, “the meantime” is working for your good and His glory. Additionally, the sometimes “wild ride” of ups and downs, twists and turns, and even detours, is providing the opportunity needed to know what you need to know and to prove yourself so that you can ultimately do what you were born to do.

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming. Get ready for Him!

#yearofrealization