The opposite happened

I was visiting with a dear friend and mentor of mine the other day, Pastor Jim.

Jim is a wise man and published author (Jim Laudell, author of Lift, look him up) who is an enormous part of my publishing journey with Chasing Jesus.

He called to talk book launch with me and like a lot of times he had a scripture to share. Little did Jim know, his encouragement for me would spark this week’s devotion.

Today, we’re taking it way back to the book of Esther.

The king’s command and law went into effect on the 13th day of the 12th month, the month Adar. On the day when the Jews’ enemies had hoped to overpower them, just the opposite happened. The Jews overpowered those who hated them. Esther 9:1 (CSB)

It was project graduation 2002. I was bowling with a group of friends when one friend, we’ll call her Tammy, was up. Tammy wasn’t much of a bowler. By the looks of it, she had never touched a bowling ball.

So, here she goes, determined to send that 10-pound ball through the middle of the 10 pins that stood taunting her. But, the opposite happened. Not only did she miss the pins completely, she threw the bowling ball behind her entirely. The rest of us roared with laughter, and I’m still laughing now, 18 years later.

In the book of Esther, we find a beautiful Jewish woman who by God’s grand design becomes queen. If you haven’t read the story in Esther chapters one through nine, go ahead, I’ll wait for you.

What a story, am I right? This nobody from nowhere becomes queen, which leads to the saving of her people. Wow. Only God.

I can’t help but get excited after reading Esther’s story and how God took what the enemy meant for evil and turned it for the good (Genesis 50:20) of his people.

Friend, he has the same in mind for you.

There is an enemy who seeks to steal from you, kill you and destroy all that you hold dear.

It’s his purpose in life to do evil and cause you pain. Maybe you can relate.

Are you facing a marriage that seems too far gone? God wants to turn it around and see the opposite happen. He wants your marriage to thrive.

Do you have a rebellious child that feels unreachable? Well, with God all things are possible, and God wants to see your child restored.

He wants to use their story to reach others; he wants the opposite to occur in their life. He can reach your child, friend.

The cancer diagnosis seems irreversible, but God says reversed.

We can’t control everything life throws our way, and we can’t control the outcome.

But, we can control who we follow, who we let lead our life. We can allow God access to our situations, our heartaches, our impossible, and let him do his work.

He wants to work in us, through us,and FOR us.

Like with Queen Esther, God is waiting for such a time as this for the opposite to occur.

Are you with Him?

Cassie Downs, formerly of the Ellsinore area, is a speaker, author of Chasing Jesus, a 60 day devotional, and founder of Everyday Jesus Ministry. Connect with Cassie on Facebook, Instagram, or online at cassiedowns.com.