Esther: Seeing Our Invisible God in an Uncertain World

by Lynn Cowell, Amy Carroll

A Jesus-loving woman, at her core, desires to please God, walk close to Him, love her people well, and serve her family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors with care. She longs, deep down and often in a hidden place, to live a life that matters and feels fulfilling.

These desires sometimes come from a place of wanting to obey Jesus no matter what. But other times, the cost of doing the uncomfortable just seems too much. 

Authors and speakers Amy Carroll and Lynn Cowell unpack the story behind the book of Esther and what it means to be a woman who moves into the uncomfortable as her act of obedience to God in this six-section InScribed Bible study. If you are growing uneasy with your current, comfortable life you find yourself in; if you feel God calling to you more than observation of the world around you, this study will:


encourage the wisdom and practice to listen before doing
diminish your fear of doing it wrong
replace your concern of being misunderstood with a passion for obeying God
embolden you to action in the unique calling God has for you

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Faith

272 pages, Paperback

Published July 12, 2022

Reviews

[Heidi Morrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an in-depth Bible study on the book of Esther. Here's just one of several Pathway Principals that really sums up this study: "Even when we cannot see the outcome, our God is at work, creating an ending that glorifies Himself." 3⭐: Catholic influence, and beliefs contrary to Scripture (praying for the Salvation of ancestors). Although this started out as a God and I Time Bible study with my highschool daughters at the time, once we came upon the discrepancies, we chose to table this as a group. I then chose to finish this study on my own, and am thankful I did. The parts where Scriptures were read were definitely beneficial, and I appreciated the 2 authors who combined their approaches to this study to enrich the book of Esther. I also found personal value in most of the written portions. I would recommend researching the beliefs of authors prior to purchasing multiple autographed copies. (Lesson learned) In summary, I did find this Bible study worthwhile next to the lenses of my own Biblical beliefs.

[Angela Valis]

This is an inspirational study on faith and influence for women! Traditionally, the book of Esther is known best as the book wherein God is silent and unseen. A central theme taught by most theologians is that God is present, even when we do not see or feel His presence. But Amy and Lynn expand further upon this truth and open our eyes (and hearts) to all the ways God was present in circumstance, in Esther’s family, in her history, and in her people. More importantly, this study shows how we can find the confidence to act on our faith, even when we do not hear specific commands from the Lord. Everyone wants God to reveal a perfect plan, but it is our unconditional faith that God desires from us. This study dives deeper into the application of our faith in the midst of an uncertain, chaotic world. After reading this study, am I more confident than ever in God’s unwavering presence in my life and encouraged in my faith.

[Amy Lively · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever felt that God was invisible, uncaring, and uninvolved in your problems? Me, too. This book tenderly reveals how God is always in control, and showed me myself in Esther's story. Ancient Persia came alive in in my own life, and helped me see God's unwavering hand even when He's leading me outside my comfort zone. I really liked the spaces for learning and reflection woven into the book, and especially the "Bible Nerd Box" tidbits of teaching. Because of the way the lessons are broken down into days with discussion questions at the end, I'm looking forward to sharing Esther with my Bible study group so I can apply it with friends.

[Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

While Esther’s story may be familiar to many, Amy and Lynn’s bible study sheds a unique, contemporary light on her unlikely ascent to the throne. This easy-to-read six-week resource takes us back in time and walks us through Esther’s journey by using a well-thought-out study process to go even deeper into her fascinating story. Features like the Bible Nerd Notes make this study even more enjoyable. Amy and Lynn’s beautifully crafted teaching leaves us with no doubt that God is, and will always be, present.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this unique approach to studying God in the book of Esther. The methods described here can be utilized to study other books of the Bible as well. My favorite one shared is the Clarity principle, which causes you to slow down and interpret unclear passages using clear ones.

It's obvious the authors put a lot of time, care, and effort into providing tools to help us gain a clear picture of God. After working through this study, a picture emerged of a powerful, compassionate God coming to the rescue of His people.

[Ruth Donnelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is written by women of God, for women of God. I learnt so much about Esther and the other characters in this ‘drama’ as well as about the Bible as a whole, as each study has readers roaming all over the Scriptures. The honest, folksy style makes it very relatable and the emphasis on personal reflection at each step helps hugely to apply each of the lessons. I benefited especially from the techniques shared to memorise Bible verses, a practice I haven’t been involved in since childhood and which this book has inspired me to continue.

[Nancy Silvers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever felt that you are just one person? What can I do to make a difference? I have too and so did Esther in the Book of Esther in the Bible. Lynn Cowell and Amy Carroll co authored this Bible Study and have done a superb job. Although I have just begun to do this study I can see how it will help me focus on the purpose God has for my life. I will up date my review when I am done but so far I have to say I highly recommend this book.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the info in the book, but the content each day was lengthy. This is not for someone who wants to spend 10-15 minutes on a devotion. It would take me about 30 min or more a day going through each reading. There’s nothing wrong with it being long, but this is not something that is meant to be digested quickly.

[Jennifer Elwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

With familiar stories in the Bible, sometimes we can get complacent. Amy and Lynn’s seasoned Bible study and teaching skills elevate the message from the book of Esther and flip complacency upside down with a fresh, modern perspective. The process of listen - feel - do - speak brings this story written about 2,500 years ago to a place we can understand and learn from today. Punctuated with historical notes and Bible nerd boxes throughout, this book truly contains something special for everyone who picks it up. If you’re wondering where the invisible God is, grab a copy of this book and you’ll find Him all throughout.

[Jody Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The controlling part of me wants to control not only the circumstances but the outcome. Lynn and Amy have graciously reminded me that only God is responsible for the outcome!

[Jessica C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this study! The format makes it easy to digest and makes Esther’s story so applicable and relevant for today. It takes you deep - to reveal that our God is faithful!

[MELISSA VERA · Rating 5 out of 5]

This study was so impactful to me. So many emotions came up when I doing this study, but the biggest thing was it led to reconciliation with my mom.

[Teresa Ashcraft · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read many devotional-type books, but this one energized me. We can all have “unique usefulness” for the kingdom, and these authors really helped to open my eyes to what I need to be doing.