Change of circumstances

When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry. *2*He went up to the entrance of the king’s gate, for no one was allowed to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth. *3*And in every province, wherever the king’s command and his decree reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and many of them lay in sackcloth and ashes.
Esther 4:1–3.

15*Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown and a robe of fine linen and purple, and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. *16*The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honour. *17*And in every province and in every city, wherever the king’s command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them.
Esther 8:15–17.

Grief, lament, bitter cries, mourning, fasting, weeping, sackcloth and ashes transformed into; royal robes, golden crown, shouting, rejoicing, lightness, gladness, joy, honour, feasting, a holiday.

How does that happen?

In the matter of a few months, the lives of the Jewish people was radically transformed. They were awarded life when the previous sentence over them had been death. How did such a complete change of circumstances occur?

Well, let's consider the people concerned - the Jews. Despite the edict of death being pronounced over them, they continued to faithfully live their lives even though stricken by grief. They lived with the perpetual fear of annihilation, yet they lived nobly. They maintained their faith and their culture and they leaned on their God. Eventhough death had been pronounced over the whole people group, they continued to live responsibly and faithfully. They knew their fate was sealed, a kings edict - unrevokable. They knew the future looked like a complete wiping out of their nation. So, what was their response? They lived righteously and they fasted and prayed. They knew they had little power or influence to change the circumstances, so they did the little they could, and they handed their fate and faith over to their God. They poured out their hearts, they appealed to God for rescue, then they got on with life - what else could they do?

Even with a death sentence over their heads, the Jews; went to work, played with their kids, tidied their homes - normal everyday stuff. They got on with living eventhough their hearts were full of grief. They kept going. They did not know how this was going to all work out, they were probably were more certain of their death than deliverance, yet they continued their lives of obedience. They sought God and they carried on.

Do you do the same when you encounter a change of circumstance? when you are faced with paining suffering?

Even when your life is threatened, your situation hopeless, do you hold on to your faith? Do you realise that if all else is against you, there is One who isn’t?  Do you, as the Jews did turn to God, pray, weep and fast?

What is your first response in tragedy?

This year, I want to take a leaf out of the Jews book. Their immediate response to devastating news was to pray and fast. They dint tell all their friends about it, they didn't hide, they faced the situation with the only one who cold have any influence. They had to live in the uncertainty, in the tragedy for a while, but God delivered in a mighty way - look at the celebration, how their mourning was turned into dancing. Times of fasting turned to feasting, mourning turned into shouts of joy. The Jews did not hide from their chase in circumstances, they took into account their emotions, they got on with life and they fell on God, and God provided a greater day of celebration than if the change of circumstances had never occurred. God gave life where there was death pronounced. The Jews had to live through it first though, they demonstrated faith and obedience and trust in God. Do you do the same when your circumstances change?