The question of “why” is one of the most profound questions that can ever be asked!! Why me? Why now? Why this life for me? I bet you have asked such a question before. Why does God have me live in this place, at this time? Why do I have a family like I have? Why do I work where I work, interacting with that group of people who have had such a huge impact on my life, or why do I go to the school that I go to, spending a great number of hours with folks they will have an influence on me for the rest of my life? Why?

The 10 o’clock news ran a life story about a mother and her two boys. The story of these three was quite sad because of how the life for the two boys started. One of the boys, who is five years old, came into this world prematurely. His mother had used alcohol and drugs before and during pregnancy and the little boy was filled with both at his birth. He was two years old before he could walk or talk. The other boy is a few years younger and he battles the same things as his ‘brother’. Both of these boys have needed therapy for all the days of their young lives.

The birth mothers of both of these boys gave up their children to the state. The physical therapist who had cared for them in many ways since the beginning of life became their adoptive mother. Her job is not easy!! Those boys have great needs. It wasn’t fair that they entered this world with such difficulties to face. And the demands on this single, adoptive mother sometimes are overwhelming. It takes a great deal of time, a boatload of patience and a constant gift of love to help these boys, her boys, in life. But when looking at the whole situation she says that she was put into that position and had contact with those boys and had her heart turn toward them ‘for such a time as this’. Their coming together was all part of God’s great design. These boys also, sometime in their life, will be able to see how God brought this special woman into their lives.

Where do you see this in your life? Where do you see that God brings things together, people and situations, at just the right moment, for such a time as this? We see this remarkable thought in the Old Testament book of Esther. This book tells us about the people of Israel who had been taken captive in the country of Persia, but one of the young Jewish girls had become one of the Queens of that country because of her amazing beauty. Her name – Esther. But in that country there was a man who was evil and he had pushed through a law calling for the annihilation of the Jews. Esther is told about the plot and the plan for the holocaust of her fellow Jews.

Esther, being part of this Persian harem, was in a position to oppose such an evil. But the law also said that if the King did not summon you and you approached the throne on your own, a sentence of death could be given. Esther had not been asked to come. But after being asked to seek the help of the King she responded, “I will go to the King, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:16b)

Esther, when asked to make such a bold step was questioned, “Who knows if you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14) This gift of her beauty was not to be self-serving. When she approached the King he welcomed her by raising the golden scepter and he received her and listened to her request and granted safety to the Jews. She saw that she was put in such a position at that time for a purpose. “For such a time as this…”

On this Mother’s Day do you marvel as what God has done for such a time as this? For mothers, aunts, grandmothers, birth mothers, adoptive mothers, those who serve others in a mothering way, for fathers who are asked to wear both hats at times, even a skirt once in a while, can you see that you have been placed exactly where you are for such a time as this. What you face in life, your unique challenges are not haphazard – God has a purpose in all of this. Esther saw it and God did great things in that situation. It is good for us to see such things too and say that God has placed us where we are for such a time as this!!

When you think that you are ineffective as a parent or if you live with constant frustration over a difficult situation please consider the great things you can do and the lives that you will direct and bless now and even in years to come. You are in your situation, both at the best moments and the worst, ‘for such a time as this’. God’s ways, His teachings and the place of Jesus Christ in your family is central!! The Psalms say, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stand guard in vain” (Psalm 127:1) For all of you who yearn to do this family thing right I remember the words of Joshua when he let the people of Israel know that they had choices before them, either toward destruction or toward life. “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable for you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

But it is not easy to live for such a time as this. Esther knew that her life was in danger because others needed her help. Your life may be more than inconvenienced because others demand much from you. On Tuesday a man I had never met before and may never meet again inconvenienced my life. I had just returned from visiting our home bound and the hospitals. It was late in the afternoon and I wanted to go home and get some supper and then return for the Church Council meeting. My schedule was set. But Benjamin rewrote that schedule. He had waited for my return and insisted on introducing his problems into my life. His bike was broken, he needed a change of clothes, he needed a bus pass and he needed a shower. Boy, did he need a shower. He told me he had not showered for a week. I didn’t argue. Why didn’t he go to Holy Trinity? They are right down the road and they could take care of him. Or how about the Methodist’s? They are the biggest church in this area. But he picked this place and he picked me. And I looked at my schedule and I knew that this was not going to work. Wouldn’t he just leave? No. I guess it was that same thing, just like Esther – “for such a time as this.” And you know what? It worked out. He got the clothes, we fixed the bike, he got fed and he promised to take a shower.

For such a time as this, at this moment, on this day we have great opportunity to influence, bless and mold the lives of others. I think that is why we set aside this day for mothers. But contrary to all the cards that would make every mother a saint, mothers are not perfect. How do I know? Once in a while I hear a phrase that tells me that mothers need grace too. And I have heard that phrase spoken by many people in all different situations. The phrase? It is, “You know, you sound like your mother.” When it is spoken among teenagers, about mother-in-laws, or about your own mom it usually is not a compliment!!

So that tells me that mothers, and all of us, who forget that our words and actions and attitudes affect people for now and even forever need another action for such a time as this. The Bible says, “But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.” (Galatians 4:4) For such a time as this, a time when we realize that we need God’s cleansing in our hearts, when we haven’t always done things right in our families, when we have stepped outside of God’s good ways, we come asking to inconvenience God’s life. And He invites such an inconvenience. He came to forgive and restore us who have fallen or failed or screwed up and need to get back up once again. Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins and His resurrection is for such a time as this!! Jesus says in the Gospel from John, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11)

This coming Thursday is the Ascension of Christ. 40 days following His resurrection from death Jesus left this earth. But He comes as a mother and tells His followers that He would not leave them as orphans. He would send them the fullness of His Spirit. And He does that for us, as well. For such a time as this, a time when we realize we need God’s strength for the challenges that are greater than our own strength, God sent His Son and filled us to overflowing with His Spirit.

I don’t have the answer for every ‘why’ that is asked. But I love the book of Esther that suggests that God has His hand in all of this. We, in our lives, as unique as they are, by God’s design, with His hand, are able to know His love in Jesus Christ and we can share that good love. Our lives, for such a time as this, have a good and holy purpose. Amen!!