Encouragement for Today

September 24, 2024 Just When It Looks Like Evil Is Winning … LYSA TERKEURST Lee en español

“So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai.” Esther 7:10a (NIV)

In Esther 7, we read an account of the downfall of Haman, a man who was planning to kill the Jewish people. This included the godly Queen Esther and her beloved relative and guardian, Mordecai.

But Haman’s pride backfired, and his evil intentions led to his humiliation. Ultimately Haman, the one who had been scheming to kill others, became the one begging for his own life. The very device he built to kill Mordecai became the place of Haman’s death:

“So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai” (Esther 7:10a). He ate the fruit of his wicked schemes.

No human could have possibly arranged for all this to happen … but God could. Even though God’s name is not specifically mentioned in the book of Esther, sometimes God does incredible moves without calling any attention to Himself at all. Esther certainly did her part to help her people (Esther 7:1-6), as did many others. But they didn’t do wrong things to try and bring about right things. Doing things God’s way and in God’s timing is the right way and the right timing.

And the book of Esther isn’t the only time in Scripture where an evil plan looked like it was going to succeed. Jesus’ enemies all believed they had created a foolproof plan to get rid of the Messiah and overthrow His reign.

The ultimate enemy was Satan. But the irony is that the very plan of Satan led to the redemptive story of Jesus’ resurrection. Evil forces set Jesus on the journey to the cross, but with every step Jesus took, evil was closer to defeat.

In both Jesus’ story and Esther’s story:

• There was an evil plan.
• There was an enemy.
• Innocent people were going to be destroyed if someone didn’t step in to save them.
• A hero came from humble beginnings and looked nothing like what the people expected.
• The heroes remained humble and honored God in their approach to handling the dire situation.
• The heroes were uniquely positioned by God to fulfill the plan of God.
• The heroes set aside what was best for them for a greater purpose.

In the case of Haman, the guilty died in place of the innocent. In the case of Jesus, the innocent died in place of the guilty.

Oh, friend, I pray we cling to this truth today: Darkness, sin and hopelessness have been overcome. Jesus did it for me and for you. Jesus loves you and sees you. The battle you’re facing, no matter how dark it feels, isn’t hopeless.

We may not be able to see victory right now, but because of Jesus, evil is in the process of being ultimately defeated. The world as we know it, plagued with sin and pain, is not our home. The new heaven and new earth are closer than we think (Revelation 21:3-8). For now, our assignment is to follow and trust God.

That’s not easy, especially when so much of what we are facing feels incredibly unfair. But we don’t serve a do-nothing God. Even in the silence, the unknown, and the places where it looks like evil is winning, He is working. We will experience evil in this world, but even still, God reigns. There is a Savior of the world who will right all the wrongs. Even if it takes a long time — even if we don’t see it in our lifetime — victorious Jesus will have victory over the wrongs done to us and the evil committed against us. This doesn’t mean we give up. It means we’re giving God what was never ours to carry.

In the meantime, we make room for what we don’t understand … for the mystery of God. Romans 11:33-36 reminds us of this:

“Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? And who has ever given to God, that he should be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen” (CSB).

Heavenly Father, purify my heart today. I trust You to handle all outcomes I feel unsure of or overwhelmed by. I lay down situations that are worrying me. Help me to be obedient to You. I want to walk in step with You, Your ways and Your timing. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

Have you ever thought, How can I trust God when I don’t understand what He’s allowing to happen right now? Lysa TerKeurst has been there. In her new book, I Want to Trust You, but I Don’t, Lysa will help you release the heavy mental and emotional weight of what you don’t understand — by learning how God’s justice will always prevail. Preorder the Proverbs 31 Ministries Exclusive Edition, and start reading today!

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FOR DEEPER STUDY

Isaiah 43:2, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze” (NIV).

How does it help you to know God is with you as you walk through difficult circumstances? How is your trust growing in Him even in this hard season?

We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments.

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