Just Like Her!
It’s such a great privilege to celebrate Mother’s Day. We are extremely blessed to have mothers. Most of the time, when a woman becomes a mother, she transitions into her true character of being more courageous, impactful, strong, helpful, giving, caring, and loving. Sometimes her influence grows so greatly that she becomes a woman who can mother a whole nation.
Can you think of anyone in your contemporary context who is a woman like that? Now, I don’t want to unpack a bunch of historical names of impactful women who had national influence. Let’s stick to our context. Let’s stick to Alberta. How about Danielle Smith? Personally, after observing her, I would say she demonstrates character, leadership, and care for the province like a mother. She is not simply saying, “I’m happy with my family, goodbye, I’m off to the mountains.” No, we can see her diligently working for the good of the people. That kind of strength is applauded and needed in our context.
Even more, we need women of faith, women completely driven by the power and purpose of God to bring redemption wherever it is needed. We need women like that!
Well, Happy Mother’s Day. Our focus today is spiritual motherhood, with an emphasis on seeing a rise in women’s leadership that is pure, loving, authentic, real, generous, caring, and spiritually impactful. Women who will make a difference in the spiritual climate of their context. Women who will live for the Kingdom of God. Women who will continue to pray for the work of the Kingdom. Women who will continue to give toward Kingdom work. Women who will embrace their calling to make a holistic difference.
Just like her. Who? It’s Esther.
Let’s unpack Esther’s story and see how spiritual motherhood can accelerate Kingdom work. It is Kingdom motherhood.
About Esther
1. Esther’s Home - Where Esther came from?
During the reign of the Persian Empire, Esther was a Jewish girl. She belonged to a group of Jewish exiles who had been taken away from Jerusalem to Persia.
2. Esther’s Family Background?
Esther was an orphan, and her uncle Mordecai took care of her. Esther’s story reveals how God can use even an orphan for great impact.
3. Esther’s Clan?
Esther and her uncle were from the tribe of Benjamin, and they kept their faith even in a very different, and most likely challenging, context.
4. Esther’s Struggles?
She was an orphan.
She was a minority in the culture where she lived.
She was taken into the king’s palace.
She was Jewish in a foreign empire.
She risked her life by approaching the king to save her people.
5. Esther’s Joy?
Her joy came through the freedom and salvation of her people.
6. Esther’s Goal?
To stand in the gap “for such a time as this” in her context — not merely to enjoy royal status or the benefits God had given her. (Esther 4:14 ESV). Now, in the same context, some of you are mothers, and some of you will soon become mothers. I want to encourage you that you are powerfully made in the image of God to make an impact and a difference for the Kingdom of God. Let’s look at five highlights from the Book of Esther that fuel spiritual motherhood.
1. Called for an Impact (Esther 4:14 ESV)
The First Highlight
You are called for an Impact.
Some women may not realize that they have a great capacity to lead and make a difference. I get really excited when I see women with strong leadership skills and good character. That is crucial. There is nothing wrong with women being full of entrepreneurial spirit, but don’t lose yourself in the process. Stay healthy. Stay pure. Stay focused. Be full of justice and integrity, knowing that you were made for such a time as this.
And God may have called you to ignite prayer gatherings, support generously, cook meals for the needy or for orphans, or stand in the gap to make a difference.
The bigger picture is about His Kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven. There are always people or groups waiting for your leadership to bring transformation and redemption to those in need.
I encourage you to keep making that difference. God has given you that leadership gift, don’t let anyone tell you it’s not for you. It is for you, and it is for the purpose of bringing redemption to many. Just like Esther, who was positioned beside the king to deliver her people.You are called for an impact.
2. Courageous in Pressure ( 4:16 )
Second Highlight
You are Courageous Under Pressure.
Now, this does not mean that when you accelerate in your role or influence, you will not feel pressure, heat, or opposition. You are not immune from pushback. But when you know that God has positioned you, and when you discern your calling and purpose, you need to show courage, not simply say, “I’m giving up under this pressure.”
You need courage. Draw it from the Spirit of the Lord and keep moving in your calling and purpose. Have the courage to keep saying, “We will reach every last person in our community with the truth of the Gospel.” Have a sincere passion for the redemption of many.
Sometimes you must move with courage in the face of adversity, just like Esther did, a spiritual mother willing to risk her life for her people in order to make redemptive history.
3. Compact for Influence (7:3)
Third Highlight
Your Resilient Approach will Make a Difference.
Sometimes your execution of leadership will require a resilient and composed approach for redemption. It is not always about noise or revolt. Too much noise in the process can quickly weaken the mission. Just like Esther, our goal is the spiritual redemption of many.
This requires composed leadership influence, getting things done through wisdom, grace, discernment, and the ability to influence people with godly leadership. Esther did not respond with chaos or rage. She approached the king with wisdom, humility, and courage. Her influence carried weight because her spirit remained steady.
As spiritual mothers and leaders, there will be moments where God calls you to lead quietly but powerfully, to speak with wisdom, pray with discernment, and influence people toward redemption. Like Esther, your composure can become a doorway for deliverance.
4. Conquering in Crisis ( 5:1-3)
Fourth Highlight
You Will Lead in Crisis Through the Divine Favour.
Now, the redemptive mission can only succeed if we learn how to conquer, not through forceful or dominating mentalities, but through our dependency on and alignment with God’s sovereign power that rules and reigns in our lives. That is how we receive favor. That is how Esther received favor, and the king told her that even half of the kingdom could be hers.
Wow! Can you imagine if God gave you influence over an entire province? How would you respond? Certainly with meekness, humility, and a deep awareness of the mission God has entrusted to you.
Esther remained faithful in completing her mission and calling. She did not get lost in pride, power, or a spirit of dominance. Instead, she served her people through her royal position.
Similarly, that is what all of you women can do, serve faithfully, lead humbly, and use your influence for the redemption and restoration of others, just like book of Esther.
5. Commissioned For Others ( 8:6 )
Fifth Highlight
You are Commissioned for others
In this highlight, we see the intensity of Esther’s calling. She understood that if she ignored her calling, she would not be able to help save her people. Therefore, she planned and executed her leadership with hope for the redemption of her people who were living in exile under the Persian Empire. She was commissioned for her people.
Even today, we all need to see and care for our communities. If not every community, then at least the community where God has placed us. We are called to bring the redemptive light of God into our context for the glory of His Kingdom.
If we refuse to step into that calling, many people around us may continue to suffer spiritual barrenness. Like Esther, we are called to stand in the gap for others with compassion, courage, and purpose.
