Prepared?!?!

      Does anyone remember the story of Queen Esther in the Old Testament and a comment that her cousin Mordecai made to her in a very difficult situation? The comment? ". . .who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Have you ever stopped to consider this thought? After all, the Lord knows all that can and will happen, so had He prepared her to be at the right place at the right time? After all she did save all of her peoples' lives!

     Another thought that has come to me is the thought of how we are to apply the scriptures in our lives. How can this be applied in our lives? I doubt any of us are going to be married to royalty in order to save our people. Only God truly knows, BUT let's take this on a level closer to home. Look  at the problems you are facing! The difficulties you are dealing with! The way life is treating you right now! And now think back through your life! Is there anything you can remember that has prepared you for what you are facing OR have faced in the past?

     May I just share one that has really opened my eyes in that God does, many times, prepare us for what is going to happen to us in the future. I grew up sort of a loner! I mean I had friends and family, but I was also very content to be alone in my room reading, writing, drawing, or studying. Or wandering down by the creek with my dog. Or riding my horse in the mountains. Of course, being with my dog or horse means I was not alone. But even so I could handle being alone quite easily. And because of things that have happened in the last few years I have had to be alone, and not by my choice. I never dreamed that I would be living my old lady years as a single woman. But, sadly, I am. Is it easy? No! And sometimes it is super hard, BUT I really and truly believe the Lord knew this trial in my life was possible, and for that reason I spent a lot of time alone, by my choice, while growing up. I would never have been able to handle it as well as I have IF I had not spent a lot of "alone time" while growing up. Of course, there was a difference back then because although I may have spent a lot of time alone, I knew my parents or siblings were around to help out if I needed them. And sometimes just knowing someone is close at hand helps. But still, I am grateful for being able to realize that this, as well as other experiences in my younger years, prepared me for what I have to deal with now. And I truly believe that if we think back, we will see that, not always, but many times the Lord let us have experiences in previous years to help us with harder issues as we get older. And I am so grateful to Him for that!!!