You have arrived at a time you wish you could forget: fires, riots, hurricanes, cities burning, face masks and isolation. Never mind canceled paychecks with the rent due, trying to teach the kids at home or watching our world screech to a halt.
But what if God is trying to get our attention and setting the stage for our big moment?
Let’s look to the story of Esther, an orphan girl who rose to power in an unusual way. Esther won a beauty contest to replace Queen Vashti because Vashti offended her husband, King Ahasuerus. But Esther won the king’s heart, not only because she was beautiful, but because she was humble.
When Esther’s uncle Mordecai warned Esther of a plot to kill her people, he pressed Esther to appeal to the king to stop the slaughter. But Esther knew that arriving to the king’s court uninvited could put her very life in danger. Mordecai warned Esther that if she did not act, she might also be murdered. Mordecai said, “For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esth. 4:14, ESV).
Esther called her people to pray, then entered the king’s court without an invitation. The king could have executed her, but instead, he invited her to have her say.
Perhaps God has also given you a message to deliver, but maybe, like Esther, you are afraid—afraid of the consequences.
Me too. I am afraid to deliver this message, to say what God has put on my heart because I don’t like to ruffle feathers, disagree with friends or get canceled. But if I don’t use my platform to say what God has put on my heart, then why did God put me into this position? I’m hoping you will extend grace toward me, but even if you don’t, I’m going to tell you the truth.
Yes, I believe we need to stand up against racism and I also believe that not only do Black lives matter, I believe all Black lives matter; including the blood of babies killed in abortion clinics purposely placed in Black neighborhoods, a practice originated to eliminate African American generations. As the blood of George Floyd calls to us, so should the blood of 60 million African American babies who have been aborted since 1973.
If you agree with me, then I believe you have a message to deliver, a message best delivered through your vote. Sure, I get it; our president has rough edges, but let go of your offenses and vote in love for the babies who cannot speak.
Maybe you will save an entire generation and maybe even save our nation from the wrath of God.
“They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters. By sacrificing them to the idols of Canaan, they polluted the land with murder” (Ps. 106:38, NLT). {eoa}
Linda Evans Shepherd is a nationally known Christian speaker and a bestselling author of over 30 books. She’s the president of Right to the Heart Ministries, founder of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association and the founder of GodTest.com. Her latest book is When You Need to Move a Mountain.
This article originally appeared at leadinghearts.com.
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