COMING OUT THE STRESS CLOSET

                   "Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom
                          for such a time as this?" ~   Esther 4:14b NKJV

In our world, we're witnessing a revolution of people coming out the closet.  A most amazing observation about this coming-out-the-closet craze is, despite so much boldness from so many, we who are stressed and needing desperately to de-stress seem to be shy and ashamed.

Whether they're negative, positive, or seriously strange, confessions come forth for all types of reasons. And while stress tends to be negative, our need to de-stress shouldn't be something we choose to conceal in our emotional closets.

The Bible's Old Testament book of Esther shines a unique light on coming out the closet. When Queen Esther learned stressful news of Mordecia (her deceased father's nephew -- now her foster father) and all her people to be destroyed, "the queen was deeply distressed."

Though Queen Esther hadn't come out the closet and confessed her true heritage, Mordecia reminded her that she too was one of these people; and even as the king's "new" queen, she surely would be destroyed along with them and him.

Esther fast and prayed -- and she instructed Mordecia and her people to do the same. Knowing it was forbidden (punishable by death) for anyone to approach the king before being summoned, she stepped in faith to the king's presence to plead for her people.

When King Ahasuerus saw Queen Esther "she found favor in his sight. . ." He held out his golden scepter to her, and he granted her request even before she asked.    

Like Queen Esther, stress survivors are now coming out the closet. Attempting to hide our stresses only increases them and makes matters worse. We feel if Queen Esther--wife of that king--could confess and de-stress, then we--children of the King--can too.

As we do what Queen Esther did--fast, pray, step in faith, and surround ourselves with those who do the same--by God's grace, we too can experience less stress and more success.  


Peace I leave with you . . .