What can we learn from Esther's preparation about patience and God's timing? Setting the Scene “In turn, each young woman went to King Xerxes after she had completed twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women—six months with oil of myrrh and six months with perfumes and cosmetics.” (Esther 2:12) Waiting Well: A Year of Preparation • Twelve months of patient, hidden work preceded Esther’s public appearance • The regimen was rigid, intentional, and could not be rushed • God positioned Esther during this lengthy season so that the right moment would align with His larger redemptive plan for His people Patience Shaped by Purpose • Delayed entrance did not mean diminished value; it ensured readiness • Silent seasons invite inward refinement much like the outward treatments Esther received • God often prepares vessels long before He presents them (cf. Moses in Midian, David tending sheep) God’s Timing Displayed • Galatians 4:4—“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son…” • Psalm 27:14—“Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD.” • Esther’s coronation occurred exactly when a Jewish queen would be needed to intercede, proving divine timing never lags and never hurries Practical Takeaways for Today • Embrace seasons of obscurity; God works beneath the surface • Submit to the processes He ordains, trusting they fit a larger purpose • Guard against shortcuts that bypass maturity; patience partners with holiness • Measure progress by faithfulness, not visibility • Remember Romans 8:28; every detail, including delays, cooperates for good Scriptures to Stand On |
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