For Such a Time as This
an emergency devotional
The story of Esther stands as one of Scripture's most powerful testimonies to courage in the face of overwhelming odds.
Esther was a Jewish woman from the tribe of Benjamin (Esther 2:5), part of the exiled community living in Persia after the Babylonian captivity. As an orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai, she understood in her bones what it meant to be vulnerable and displaced. Her Hebrew name was Hadassah, meaning "myrtle," but she took the Persian name Esther, likely meaning "star," a woman living between two worlds, carrying both her heritage and the reality of her foreign context. When she was taken into King Xerxes' harem and eventually chosen as queen (Esther 2:17), she concealed her Jewish identity on Mordecai's counsel, understanding the precarious position of her people.
Years later, when Haman's genocidal decree threatened to annihilate all Jews throughout the Persian Empire, Mordecai challenged her with these words: "And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14). Esther's response reveals her transformation from a woman hiding her identity to one willing to claim it fully: "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish" (Esther 4:16). Her courage to act, even as she was filled with fear and did not know the outcome, reveals a faithful trust in in all times and places.
In our current moment, many of us find ourselves feeling like Esther, caught between the safety of silence and the risk of stepping forward and speaking out. It is hard to know how to navigate forces that feel beyond our control. A couple of weeks ago, David Hahn, introduced me to a new publication by Dr. Hanna Reichel's entitled, For Such a Time as This: An Emergency Devotional. It is exceptional and I recommend buying it for all of your friends and family who are in need of encouragement right now. Drawing deeply from Scripture and theological wisdom, Dr. Reichel offers a framework for discerning God's voice amid chaos and anxiety. The book is not filled with easy answers or simplistic platitudes; instead, it provides grounding in God's character, practical spiritual disciplines for maintaining clarity, and thoughtful guidance for taking meaningful action when the path forward feels unclear. Each devotion helps readers distinguish between reactive fear and Spirit led discernment, equipping us to respond rather than merely react to the challenges before us.
Here is a thick description of the devotional:
A guide for ordinary Christians seeking to live faithfully in extraordinary times
“This is not the first end of the world. Many worlds have ended.”
In an era of political polarization, eroding democratic norms, and rising authoritarianism, many Christians find themselves disoriented, wondering how their faith should inform myriad daily decisions. Drawing upon both scholarship and pastoral wisdom, theologian Hanna Reichel offers a timely resource for believers seeking spiritual grounding amid societal upheaval.
For Such a Time as This provides a thoughtful framework for discernment rooted in scripture, historical wisdom, and the core commitments of Christian faith. Through meditations on scripture, reflections on historical precedents including the Confessing Church’s resistance to Nazi Germany, and portraits of inspiring figures who maintained their integrity in the face of oppression, Reichel guides readers toward their own Christian response to the present moment.
Written specifically for ordinary believers, this accessible volume acknowledges that while some are called to dramatic public witness, all must face the daily challenge of living faithfully as long-established institutions and systems reveal their fragility. Neither alarmist nor complacent, Reichel reminds readers that Christians throughout history have faced the collapse of worlds they once took for granted—and have discovered unexpected liberation in the process.
For anyone troubled by current political trends and searching for ways to disentangle faith in God from misplaced trust in political systems, For Such a Time as This offers both challenge and comfort. Readers will come away with practical wisdom for navigating our uncertain times, a deeper understanding of Christianity’s resources for resistance, and renewed energy for the urgent tasks that faithful discipleship demands today.
“None of this is unprecedented; what is unprecedented is that today it is we who have to do the hard work of seeing idols smashed, grieving and picking up the pieces, holding them into the sun, and seeing new refractions of light in their edges.”
We will be offering intentional conversations about For Such a Time as This: An Emergency Devotional very soon, dates and times coming soon!
May God hold you in a grip of grace,
Pastor Kacey
You can purchase this devotional from the publisher: FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS
