Why do we avoid the big issue by creating another one?

When my daughter Sage was in the NICU needing surgery, I found myself obsessing over installing a hurricane-proof window in her nursery instead of focusing on her immediate medical needs. This episode of Devotions for the Christian Heart Podcast dives into how we often let minor distractions overshadow significant challenges in our lives. Reflecting on the Book of Esther, we’ll explore how Esther’s initial fear of approaching the king mirrored my own misplaced focus. Together, we'll learn the importance of seeking God first and cutting through distractions to prioritize what truly matters.

As we wrap up, I offer heartfelt encouragement for anyone facing a tough week. Understanding and feeling God’s love in every circumstance can be a powerful source of strength. We’ll end with a deeply moving prayer to remind you of God’s unwavering presence. I also invite you to connect with our community, share your thoughts, and leave a review. Your faith journey is important, and joining us weekly could be just the spiritual upliftment and motivation you need.

Key passages

Esther 1-10

Esther 4:14
14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Philippians 4:6-7
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

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Podcast Music by: prazkhanal
Song: Whip

Chapters

• 1:12 Start of Devotion
• 8:45 Powerful Weekly Devotional Podcast Closing

Transcript

Jessi Morgan: 0:00

Hello, hello. You're listening to Jesse Morgan Devotions for the Christian Heart Podcast, episode 22. This week's devotional is titled why Do we Avoid the Big Issue by Creating Another One? Let's go. Hi. I'm Jesse Morgan. I used to just share home decor and renovation tips on social media, but now I'm sharing something even closer to my heart my journey and love for Jesus Christ, my Savior. Welcome to the Jesse Morgan Devotions for the Christian Hawk Podcast.

Jessi Morgan: 0:29

This is a weekly devotional. I started back in May 2024, but the inspiration for it came much earlier. It was rooted in a faith journey that began when my daughter was born, four months early in 2023. Through that challenging time, god worked in ways that truly amazed me. On this podcast, I share personal stories of faith, woven together with scripture to show just how incredible God's word can be in our everyday lives. My hope is that through these stories, you'll be encouraged, uplifted and reminded of God's love and presence, no matter what you're going through. So I invite you to spend less than 15 minutes with me each week as we reflect on these devotionals together. Let's all pray within. Why do we avoid the big issue by creating another one? Key verses for today Basically, the book of Esther Esther 4.14,.

Jessi Morgan: 1:23

Philippians 4.6-7. Hey everyone, jessie Morgan, here I found a journal entry from when my daughter had her big surgery in the NICU on December 28th 2023. And I feel like now's the perfect time to share what I was feeling, what I was going through at the moment. So real talk, before I even begin, I struggled with this week's devotional, not because I didn't have anything to say, but because life just got in the way. Work's been crazy and things at home have been a bit challenging, especially with a baby who's figured out she can almost crawl Yay, fun times. Plus, we've been running around with my daughter's checkups as well, from pediatrician to her six other specialists. So yeah, it's been a lot, but I'm committed to this podcast and I hope you are all committed to diving into the word of God with me. Anyways, the timeframe of this journal entry was around Sage's surgery and I happened to be studying the book of Esther such an amazing book, by the way.

Jessi Morgan: 2:31

You all probably know the story right. Esther was a young Jewish woman who became queen of Persia and ended up saving her people from a plan to wipe them out. This plot was cooked up by Haman. Wipe them out. This plot was cooked up by Haman, a top official who hated the Jews, but Esther's cousin, mordecai, got wind of this and asked her to speak to the king. Here's the thing, though Esther couldn't just approach the king. This was a custom thing If she approached the king without being summoned, she could be killed, and it had been 30 days since the king had called for her. Wow, what a marriage. So you can imagine her hesitation. But when Mordecai dropped this powerful line, that's one of the most famous verses in the Bible. I think this is what really got to Esther. Esther. It says Esther 4.14, for if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows, but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this. Basically, he was telling Esther that she was queen for a reason, god's reason.

Jessi Morgan: 3:49

She was caught up in the customs and her own fears that she almost missed the bigger picture. The lives of her people were at stake. She was focusing on the smaller problem of breaking a rule when there was something so much bigger going on. Ever been there? Focusing on your own little issue when there was something so much bigger going on? Ever been there Focusing on your own little issue when there's such, when there's like, a bigger issue at hand? Yeah, I've been guilty of that too, like when Sage was about to have her shot surgery On December 28th 2023,.

Jessi Morgan: 4:24

She had the surgery because, being born four months early, her body wasn't absorbing spinal fluid properly. If we didn't take care of it, it could have caused some serious neurological damage. But instead of focusing on that, a few days before the surgery, I was completely caught up with something so minor getting a hurricane-proof window installed in her nursery. I wanted to make sure her room wouldn't be disturbed later on, so I was obsessing over it. I got the installation set up, but when the guy came, the window was too small and we had to reorder it. I was so angry and frustrated and that's when I felt like God was speaking to me. He said Jess, don't worry about the window. He said, just like Esther, who at first was more focused on her own life rather than the lives of her people. Once Esther understood what was at stake, she asked Mordecai and others to fast and pray before she approached the king.

Jessi Morgan: 5:40

That's what fasting is to me Removing distractions so we can focus on our devotion to God. It's not about the food. It's about removing anything that takes our focus away from him, especially during a tough situation. So why do we do this? Why do we let distractions take our focus off the real issue? Because it's easier. Facing the bigger challenge is scary, so we get sidetracked by smaller, less important things.

Jessi Morgan: 6:12

Here are two ways to avoid creating distractions and excuses that I'm really trying to live by these days. Number one seek God first. Talk to God like you would a close friend. The more we connect with him, the easier it is to bring the real issues to him, instead of creating distractions to avoid them. Number two remove distractions. Fasting doesn't have to be about food. Like I said earlier, it's about removing anything that pulls you away from God, whether that's TV, social media or even certain people. Distractions delay blessings.

Jessi Morgan: 6:51

I'll give you an example. My aunt Glenda fasted in a pretty unique way when she was battling breast cancer. She didn't tell anyone for a long time because she didn't want their pity or negativity. That would have been a distraction from her faith in God's healing. By keeping her focus on him, she was able to block out the noise and today she's healed. Love you, aunt Glenda. So I want to leave you with this Are you creating distractions to avoid the bigger challenges God wants you to trust him with? Don't let Satan use those smaller issues to distract you from your faith. Esther realized that saving her people was the real priority. I realized that Sage's surgery was far more important than a window.

Jessi Morgan: 7:39

In every situation, no matter how big or small, we need to pray, trust God and focus on what really truly matters. Let's not forget Philippians 4, 6-7. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your request to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Love you all, amen. Let's pray.

Jessi Morgan: 8:10

Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day. Lord, father, we bless your holy name. Thank you so much for this amazing devotion today, where we really need to keep focusing on the bigger challenge at hand and putting our trust and faith in you so we can get through it, and not creating these distractions that Satan wants us to really harp on. And when we do that, we're blocking our blessings, we're blocking the opportunity to see you work in such amazing, mysterious, miraculous ways. Father, be with everybody who's listening on this podcast. Let them continue to have a great week.

Jessi Morgan: 8:45

If they're having a challenging week, comfort them, lord, but just know that they understand that everybody on this podcast listening understands the love that you have for each and every one of them. Father, we love you and we praise you in Jesus name. Amen. That's it for this week's podcast. I pray that these devotions encourage you to focus on and lean into God daily. If you found value in this episode, please consider sharing, leaving a comment or leaving a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. For more information or to get in touch, check the show notes or visit jessimorganhomecom. You can also find me on Instagram at jessimorganlife. Until next time. This is Jessi Morgan praying off.