If I perish, I perish.

Sometimes you commit your mind and focus on something, maybe with dwindling expectations on what the outcome may turn out to be. You then do whatever you can/should and say let it come, If I perish I perish. I bet am not hearing this phrase for the first time, much honestly after having read the key text of this Sabbath’s worship, Esther 4:16. “Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.”

Still on this phrase, If I perish, I perish, I think of the hymn, Master the tempest is raging. In the 2nd stanza, the hymn proceeds as follows;

“Master, with anguish of spirit
I bow in my grief today;
The depths of my sad heart are troubled,
Oh, waken and save, I pray;
Torrents of sin and of anguish
Sweep o’er my sinking soul!
And I perish! I perish, dear Master:
Oh, hasten and take control.“

As Christians, living lives mirrored on Christ as our perfect example, prayer needs to be the breath of our souls. While praying, it calls on us to believe and have a faith unshaken. The outcomes of our prayers are undisclosed to us and thus we tend to leave everything to God. He has the final word of response to our prayers. It calls for faith because our thoughts and plans might not be His will. Like Esther did, calling on the Jews to gather and help her in prayers. She knew that even after making prayers and fasting, the will of God would still prevail. And closes her words by saying, If I perish, I perish. The perish is not forever and the darkness will be turned to day if we let our faith look up to Him who made us.

You are in that weary situation, as a good Christian, you pray, not only in times of need but having prayers making part of your days. The thought of God being there to rescue you as a perishing one is a step of faith. Praying, fasting, and crying to God is another move, showing surrender and letting God lead. God sometimes might take time, but in faith, He comes through. He comes with a sweet promise and lets you lay on His gentle breast where a divine rest is promised.

The story of Job is a common one on our ears and we get thrilled about what this great man of faith did. Its ending is sweeter because there was solace and faith proves to us as the victory. Esther’s words, and If Perish, I perish, can make your heart faint because many at times, we don’t picture ourselves through suffering. In faith, sacrifices have to be made, and it’s us who will make these sacrifices to enable our growth. To be lifted in the hierarchy of faith, we can suffer but in the end, it’s God’s will that prevails. In the process, we need to keep praying and fasting because even in that process, we are surely not alone.

This Sabbath, a prayer and fasting Sabbath, Sis Leah Aoko Kanyangi will be ministering to us. The key text is Esther 4:16 and the theme song is SDAH 517, My Faith Looks up to thee. Our service will be live on YOUTUBE for those who will be following online.

Feel welcome as we all journey to Caanan as we hear from our Father, He will teach us on, If I perish, I perish.