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"Esther's Offering"

I come from a family with strong Italian roots. I am almost certain that I have a cousin Vinny somewhere! When my grandmother prepares a meal, there is almost always one important ingredient: garlic! Yes, beautiful, fragrant and tasty garlic. Often the aroma of garlic would be so strong in the kitchen that it would almost slap you in the face. If I close my eyes and picture the family dinner table with the ravioli, spaghetti, kielbasa, bread, salad and green beans, I can smell that garlic. The interesting thing about garlic is that it doesn’t have such a strong smell until it is crushed or cut.

Esther’s Jewish name was Hadassah, which means “myrtle.” Myrtle is a tree whose leaves only release their fragrance when they are crushed. Much like garlic, Esther’s fragrant offering would be most noticeable when pressure came. She literally stood in the gap for the Jewish people to rescue them. I can’t think of a more tension-filled or pressure-filled situation. God certainly had a divine plan for Esther’s life. Even her name points us to the fact that her life would be a sweet aroma when pressed.

We often avoid pressing situations. When things get difficult, we are often looking for a safer option. In my experience, the most fragrant offerings that I have made to God have been amidst stressful times and not comfortable times. It is almost as if I have been most aware of God’s presence when times have been the most challenging. When I think back to the moment I became a Christian, I knew I wasn’t signing up for a life of comfort and ease. Somehow, as time has gone by, I’ve allowed a shallow representation of Christianity to enter my mind.

This shallow representation places God in a box so that I can be safe and in control. Fortunately, God is too big for that box, and His love and mercy draw me back to a place where I embrace the tension. I have found that I am most fulfilled when my life is a sweet offering to God.

Embrace the tension of life and see what some pressure will reveal. It might give you a chance to reveal Jesus in a new and beautiful way. Like Esther, God has a plan for us to spend our lives wisely and with passion. Pray that the pressures of life will produce a sweet aroma.