Passage Read: Esther 7-10
Meditation Verses: 8:16-17
Thought
The Jews rejoiced because they had been granted the right to assemble and defend themselves on the day their enemies were granted the right to assemble and kill them. Esther requested the obvious solution, that the previous decree be revoked, but that was not possible under the laws of the Medes and Persians. So this was the next best solution. And still it was a day of light and honor and joy for the Jews! They would still need to fight to defend themselves, but that didn't bother them! They still took it as a great victory, and they hadn't even fought yet!
Application
The solution I seek to a problem I have may not always be the one I desire. When it's not the solution I want (one that probably doesn't require me to do anything) can I still rejoice like the Jews? If I still have to struggle through to victory, can I still recognize favor from God? Can I recognize that things have turned out for my good, even though the challenge remains? The Jews had great faith that they would be able to defend themselves. They may not have known how successful they would be, but even just being granted permission to assemble and defend themselves was already a great victory in their eyes. May I also recognize when things shift in my favor, even long before I face the actual challenge.