Going All In: Embracing Faith and Courage in Following God’s Call

• By candidasullivan
• September 11, 2024
• No Comments

I dropped the plate in the dishwasher as a new thought grabbed me and stunned me. I had been thinking about the story of Esther in the Bible all day. I highlighted the details throughout the day and decided to read it the next morning. But the thought God gave me wasn’t found in just reading the scriptures. It required more. It needed me to look beyond the words and search for understanding. 

If we break it down, we might argue that Esther wasn’t good enough to be queen. When her parents died, her uncle adopted her. When introduced to the King, she hid that she was a Jew. But she obtained grace and favor from the King. He loved Esther above all the others. 

When the King set the royal crown on her head, she didn’t reject it. She didn’t try to sabotage herself and think she wasn’t good enough, but she accepted it. 

That’s the part God wanted me to see and understand. It doesn’t matter what we’ve endured or who hates us and sets out to destroy us. If we have GOD’S FAVOR, we have everything we need. 

Even when it seemed that they would all perish at the wickedness around them, God had a plan. God gave Esther something to do that might end her life, and she agreed. 

Esther 4:16 KJV

16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the King, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

After I read her response, I shook my head at my turmoil. When God gives me something to do, I worry, stress, struggle, and try to get out of it. On the other hand, Esther had the courage to trust God completely. 

After reading this, I realize my turmoil comes from my lack of faith and trust in God. 

Faith doesn’t make sense to our carnal minds. It causes us to look beyond what we know, see, understand, and trust God. Just because it has never been done before doesn’t mean God can’t do it. 

I really struggle with being rejected, doing things differently, and having the faith to follow God when I don’t understand it all. However, I know the next step requires me to go all in.

I want to be the writer God called me to be. I want to use my voice and platform to do His work. I want to write courageously inspired and stop being scared of it all. 

In my heart, I know God has been preparing me for this. He has a plan more significant than anything my mind can comprehend. He’s been waiting for me to leave the lukewarm state and get on fire for Him. 

So, I’m going all in. I’m going to follow the Lord, even if it makes me uncomfortable, even if no one understands me. And if I fail, I fail. 

I can handle failure if I give it my all. But I can’t fathom failing because I was too scared to try.