Not only God, but life itself, respects and supports the determined person

We have all heard the expression "burn the candles", which refers to making a decision that compromises us, and that does not allow us the option of going back. It refers, originally to the mythical decision of the Spanish conqueror Hernán Cortés, who supposedly ordered the burning of the ships in which he and his men had arrived in Veracruz, Mexico, to begin the conquest of the Aztec empire. By eliminating the possibility of an escape route, Cortés hoped to strengthen the resolve of his men and thus increase the possibility of victory in very unfavorable circumstances.

The Bible shows us again and again determined men and women who make desperate decisions in the name of the Lord, and who always end up ripping victory out of the clutches of defeat. I think of Ester, who chooses to follow her mother-in-law and compromise her destiny with her, although she feels defeated and insists on clarifying that she has nothing to offer her. Ruth's words are still inspiring: “Don't beg me to leave you, and turn away from you; because wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried; so do the Lord to me, and further add me, that only death will separate us ”(Ruth 1:16 and 17). The story says that "seeing Naomi that she was so determined to go with her, she said no more."

Ruth's decision was noble and heroic, but also very wise. Naomi's wise advice and family connections allowed her to find a rich and generous husband, and God's blessing covered her to the point of becoming an ancestor of Jesus Christ himself. When a man or woman lives life purposefully, honestly examining their context, knowing precisely their personal limitations and capabilities, and fully committing themselves to the decisions they make, inevitably the curve of their life will be upward, and obstacles will move away from their path. way to make way for him in life.

Queen Esther initially chose to be prudent and safe when the Jewish people risked being exterminated by the evil Haman. He wanted to hide his Jewish identity and avoid the risks that came with intervening on behalf of his people before King Ahasuerus. Her uncle Mordecai challenged her to make up her mind — to assume her identity fully, take advantage of the strategic situation she found herself in, and take desperate action, entering the king's chamber without having been previously invited to intercede for her people. Essentially, he said, “If you remain indecisive, opting for false security, sooner or later life will overtake you and you will perish like all other Jews. But if you decide to intervene, even though it involves a lot of risk, perhaps you will stumble upon greatness and do a lot of good. And who knows if this is what you were born for and are in the position you currently occupy ”(Esther 4:13 and 14).

Esther entrusted herself to the Lord, adopted a clear and ambitious strategy, and the rest is history: Her determined action resulted in honor for her, salvation for her people, and a clear advance for the Kingdom of God.

It is good to pray, meditate and be prudent in life. It is good to confess the promises of the Lord and believe that He is good and faithful to those who trust in Him. But in life also comes the time for action, to make concrete decisions and take risks, to carefully measure the options in front of us and choose just one of them, coldly and responsibly committing ourselves to their possible consequences. And once we know what we have to do, we can only jump into the waters, taking an inflatable life preserver if possible, and entrusting ourselves to the merciful arms of the Lord. He will not allow us to fail. "If God is with us, who is against us?"

If you want to delve into this reflection, I recommend you study Pastor Omar Soto's sermon entitled “ Take the risk and live by the truth ”.