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Esther 8:5-6. After praying and fasting, Esther asks her husband the king to revoke the letters written by Haman calling for the destruction of the Jews, "For how can I endure to see the calamity that is coming to my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?"

 

Last night I had a terrible dream of destruction. I was walking towards home when I saw a large helicopter hovering over the area where my house would be. I then saw great clouds of smoke rising up and then a huge explosion which sent tons of debris high into the air to rain down precisely over the area my home woudl be. I thought that surely my husband and daughter had been killed. It was terrible. I think this dream speaks to the worry I have about so many things that are going on and are completely outside of my control. But, like Esther, I am never without the ability to plead to my king.

 

God loves us as a husband loves his wife. So surely I should be brave like Esther and ask him to preserve my kindred and my loved ones from what feels like coming destruction. Esther fasted and prayed before approaching her husband with this request, and she waited until the threat was unavoidable by any other means. She also prefaced her request by saying "If it pleased the king" that is, if it is your will.

 

So, God, I have been praying, I have been fasting, I trust you to know if we are facing threats that cannot be avoided and, if we are, I ask that you preserve your people, my kindred, those I love. For how can I endure to see the calamity that is coming to my people?