The Esther in the bible is known for her beauty and also for helping her people. This month I’ve met an Esther who is also known for the same things. Her love for God radiates and her servant heart cannot be missed. The other day I got the opportunity to sit down and learn more about her, and it was one of the best days yet.
This girl who is the eldest of 5 has been blessed by God and doesn’t shy away from giving Him all the credit. Her father died when she as 12 years old and her mom was left to raise five kids on her own. They would go without meals and struggle to pay school fees, but as Esther said, “The Lord provided and got us through.: She worked at a stationary office when she was about 20 years old where her soon to be husband wouldd come to get copies and see her. Elias showed how m much he loves Jesus and in January 2009 they got married. They now have three kids who are absolutely adorable, and also radiate God’s joy.
Esther is quite the entrepreneur. She does all the accounting at Destiny School and she makes at least 100 sausages each morning to sell throughout the day. She used to make scones, but her oven broke. In the winter she travels to Livingstone to get blankets and then sells them here in Lusaka. She also has a love for fashion and buys shoes from Malawi, and brings them back to sell. Talk about a mom of the year. In church she sings in the choir and translates the service. She always is overflowing with Joy and love, and she is eager to greet everyone she sees.
Esther has many hats that she wears, but she is also quick to help others. She supports two of her siblings in school, believing they will get a successful job to help out their family. She supports her mom by providing food and housing, and also provides for her immediate family. She amazes me.
While she was telling me her story, she continued to point out how God has and always will provide. “God has blessed me so much, you don’t even know,” was the phrase she repeated over and over again.
Esther also has incredible faith. She knows God will come through and provide when he is ready and she is perfectly okay with that. She even looked at me and said, “Michaela, I have stubborn faith, but God loves it.” She cracks me up, and her faith is stubborn, but it is also incredibly inspiring. She is so beautiful and her heart for other people shines through.
The people I’ve met recently take faith to a whole new level. It’s at a whole new level because they know they cannot provide for themselves at all. Every day, every hour, they are completely relying on God for everything because they have to. They rely on a God who is bigger than themselves, because they know he will provide every single thing they need.
Their faith is on steroids and it is so encouraging.
