Timing Is Everything

Timing Is Everything

Queen Esther

Read: Esther 5:3-7

As her husband came in the back door, Judy resisted the urge to blurt out all the things weighing on her mind. The mechanic from the garage had called to say that her car needed new brakes, Derek’s teacher had requested an appointment to discuss a behavior problem at recess, and she was thinking about taking night classes to finish her degree. This is not the right time, she reminded herself. Not after a ten-hour workday and a long commute. They would have their discussion after Ed had a chance to enjoy his dinner and read the paper. After ten years of marriage, she had learned the importance of timing.

When Xerxes admitted Esther into the inner court, Esther may have felt the urge to blurt out what weighed so heavily on her heart. The lives of all the Jewish people, including her relatives and friends, were at stake. But since Esther had prepared herself with prayer, she sensed that this was not the right time to make her request. Even in such a perilous situation, she controlled her emotions and waited for God to guide her. Instead of pleading for the lives of her people, she invited the king to a banquet and promised to explain her request the next day.

I admire Queen Esther’s discernment and restraint. Too often, I succumb to the temptation to speak before thinking. When we say the wrong thing, or the right thing at the wrong time, it can trigger unpleasant or even disastrous consequences. The Bible teaches that we are accountable not only for what we say but also for when and how we say it. If we pray before dealing with a problem, God’s Holy Spirit will guide our words and our timing. With his help, we can learn to say the right thing at just the right time.

The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words.

Proverbs 15:28