Standing Strong: Overcoming Adversity & Living ConfidentlySample

### When You Have Lost Your Voice When you think of losing your voice, you probably think of being physically unable to speak because of an illness. I can attest that this kind of losing your voice is terribly inconvenient! But there’s another type of losing your voice that’s far worse. We all experience times when the weight of life feels crushing and despair washes over us in unending waves. At first we fight with all the faith we can muster to keep worry and anxiety at bay. But if the blows keep coming, if the waves keep crashing, eventually we may start to lose our spiritual voice. We feel unable to speak truth to lies. We open our mouth to proclaim the goodness of the Lord in the midst of our battle and nothing comes out. Esther is the patron saint of the voiceless. She reminds us what it means to speak up, even when we think we can’t. Esther’s story opens with her being taken from her home to become a part of the harem of a powerful, albeit foolish, king. Esther lost it all—her family, her home, her identity, and her voice. She must have spent countless months praying and thinking, “Can anyone hear me? Does anyone care what has become of me?” Then one day she discovers the king has been duped by his most trusted advisor, Haman, into ordering all the Jews in his kingdom killed. Stunned, she asks her uncle Mordecai what to do and he sends her this message: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 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 your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13–14). Esther knows she must speak up and plans the perfect moment to unravel Haman’s plot before the king. She asks, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request” (Esther 7:3). God uses her to speak in such a way that she saves the entire nation of Israel. Wow. Talk about standing strong and finding your voice. Just like Esther, we face seasons of uncertainty. We are uncertain of ourselves, uncertain of our dreams, and uncertain of God’s plans. In these times, we can find our voice again and pray that God will bring clarity. We see all throughout Scripture that he hears us when we call, he is with us, and he will not abandon us, even though at times we may feel like he has. God has plans for you, there is strength in your future, and you are reading these words because it’s time to connect with God. He will help you find your voice. He will give you the strength and power to fight for faith in the midst of uncertainty. Action Step: Like Esther, we must hold fast to the truth that we are strong women of God, even when life seems out of control. Today, find one truth from the Bible you can speak over the uncertainties of your life. Prayer: Lord, show me where I’ve lost my spiritual voice and help me speak your words of truth over my life even when I’m struggling for words. Reveal to me where you’re working while I’m waiting. I trust you will renew my strength and help me find my voice again.