One of my favorite books in the Bible is the book of Esther. Esther’s story has always stood out to me. I remember my dad asking me when I was very young why the book of Esther speaks to me, and honestly, at ten-years old, I didn’t really have a concrete reason. The other night I decided to read Esther again and look at it from a more mature perspective now that I’m older and suddenly everything clicked.

One thing that I’ve always struggled to understand about my life is if I’m really following God’s path for me. Of course, His will shall prevail, so that means that ultimately He decides my future no matter what. However, I’ve just always wondered why God has put me in the United States in a happy, loving family, and provided me with so many wonderful blessings.

I take a lot of it for granted until I really take the time to think about it.

I think, surely, there are things I could be doing in other places that would glorify God more than studying English and dance in college. However, I really do feel like that is what God called me to pursue, as naive as you may think that sounds.

I know that God has given me my particular set of gifts for a reason, but I often can’t seem to comprehend why.

There’s a verse in Esther that really spoke to me about this topic though. In Esther 4:14 Mordecai says to Esther, “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to a royal position for such a time as this?” Another translation that’s slightly more popular is “perhaps you were born for such a time as this.” God placed Esther in her royal position so that she could influence King Xerxes and save the Jews.

Now, I don’t know what God’s plan is for me yet, but I couldn’t get this verse out of my head.

I am definitely not a queen, but I’m incredibly fortunate and writing allows me to reach thousands of people every week, and like Esther, I'm just an ordinary girl. But perhaps, like Esther, I was born to make a difference here with the gifts that God has given me here. Perhaps I was born for such a time as this when negativity has taken over my Facebook newsfeed and influencers like Kim Kardashian are tweeting that prayers don’t work. I don’t have the following of Kim K, but my words still reach more people than I expect them to every week. Perhaps I don't know what God's purpose for me is yet, but I know He has one in mind.

God’s plan for Esther was to be the queen and save the Jews from persecution in Persia. She didn’t see this right away. She didn’t know if she should speak up. She was just an ordinary girl that God placed in an incredible position, and I can identify with that. God gave me a unique set of gifts and placed me in this life I have for a reason. I was created for such a time as this... and so were you.