For Such A Time As This

by: Carole D. Hicks (1/23/25)

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5 (NIV)

These days many are at a loss trying to reconcile realities and what seems like a morbid nightmare. Many (about half of US Citizenry) are beside themselves with grief and anxiety regarding our current state of governmental and cultural affairs. The mental health and crisis of the heart are REAL and founded.

Not to negate the feelings of those who are celebrating what so many others find abhorrent, surely, we each and all need to value the people behind these varied perspectives. How to do that … how to cope and function … how to survive without “throat punching” each other … those are challenges we face “in a time such as this”?

For many, if not “fight” then “flight” is the option. Just run to your corner, curl up in a fetal position and try to hide from all the hurtfulness, conflict, passivity, and aggression … find a place of denial for four years.

But “flight” is neither healthy nor productive, and as with “fight” — does not put us in a position to “do better.”

So, what do we do in “a time such as this?”

I’ve been pulling back myself … trying to create some space and distance from all the diatribe, vitriol, and emotions. (of which I too am guilty of perpetuating I’m sure). I thought retreating to a “wilderness” — and just becoming a recluse/disconnecting from engagement.

But in my longing to “just be still” … I feel like God is revealing to me a few truths that I’ve read/seen Him point out to His children in the past.

The first thing that He brought to mind is from Esther.

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14

You might recall that Esther was truly “out of place” in her time. Did you also know that the book of Esther is one of only two books of the Bible where God is NOT EXPLICITELY MENTIONED? (the other is the Song of Songs)

Some believe that this is PURPOSEFUL as a sign of exactly how God works in situations and circumstances where His Presence is not all together evident. For “such a time as this” perhaps?

This tugs at my heart in a way that is comforting and powerful signifying that GOD IS ALWAYS AT WORK! Even when those He chooses to use feel out of place, disconnected, unwanted and rejected.

I’m also reminded of Jeremiah, “the weeping prophet.”  God called him to deliver some hard messages … tough words to deliver and to hear … knowing full well the messages would be rejected and even put Jeremiah in danger. He consistently “wept” for his people because of their obvious dejection of God’s ways, choosing their own paths toward power, greed and “peopleness.” 

Jeremiah dreaded facing the people with the message and truth from God. God was calling the people to REPENTANCE! Always a tough message for us to hear, especially for any prone to think they have nothing for which to repent.

In the first chapter of Jeremiah, God tells him, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew^[a] you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

And when Jeremiah started trying to offer up excuses as to why he couldn’t do what God was requiring, God told him to stop whining and do what He said to do!

“GIRD UP YOUR LOINS and get ready to speak” ~ Jeremiah 1:17

It has always been a pain to me to have my faith and relationship with God questioned based upon my politics.  AND YET, sadly I’ve found myself doing the same. And in my heart, I do not want to be “that person” … I can’t see a person’s heart, as they obviously can’t see mine. (not to negate Matthew 7:16, “by their fruits you shall know them)  

As I’ve “been still” these past few days, God has reminded me of Jesus’ conversation with his disciples when they had an argument about which of them would be the greatest. He had no time or tolerance for such pettiness. In fact, He told them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.” ~Luke 9:46.

That is a VERY clear message to me. I’m sure of many of us. Not confusing at all.

So .. here I am! Recognizing that indeed, if I believe God’s Word and ALL the words He has spoken to me in my relationship with Him over the past 45 years, regardless of my emotions, passions, anxieties, weariness, dismay, broken-heartedness, fear and “druthers” – FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS … one way or another, God’s Truth and His Work will prevail.  The CHOICE is mine whether to be a part of what He is doing, or to succumb to passivity and stick my head in the sand. (the latter of which is absolute opposite to how He has created me to be).

Yes, a part of me wants to run away and hide from all the things I’d rather not see, hear, or know. But that is letting the Enemy gain ground in his oppression and evil-doing, and that IS NOT ANSWERING THE CALL that has been placed on my heart and life.

I’m a writer. I’m a communicator. My spiritual gift (endowed by my Creator) is prophecy. Much like Jeremiah and other prophets, my passions run high and sometimes cause me to mourn, grieve and throw a bit of a Hicks Fit.

But alas, I hear my Lord saying, “Get up! Clean up your face! Gird up your loins! This is NOT THE TIME for you to lay down and die.”

The challenge for those with the gift of prophecy is discerning when the message is genuinely from the Holy Spirit, and when it is “pure peopleness.”  It’s a real issue that requires staying in The Word, being in constant walking/talking fellowship with God and yes, “REPENTANCE” for succumbing to those spurts of peopleness that surely plague us all.

Esther spent a great deal of time in preparation for being in the place that she really did not fit or belong according to “peopleness.”  She was in danger … placed there by GOD’S DIVINE PROVIDENCE (tho’ it seemed that man was in control). She found her courage to answer and stay with her calling, “for such a time” and she was able to save her people from annihilation.

Thus … as uncomfortable as it may be … so should I. So, I shall.