Behind Esther: Thriving When God Seems Distant

Esther's World Is Much Like Ours: God Seems Missing.

Some of Esther's peers, like Daniel, lived with a distinct advantage: they experienced the mighty, miracle-making wonder of God. Esther, on the other hand, was surrounded by extravagant wealth and impiety in the disenchanted empire of Persia. Faith wasn't easy in a place like this, but thankfully, Esther learned there was more to God than what she could see.

Join Chris in an extended exploration of one of the Bible's most neglected stories and discover the core spiritual practices and habits of Esther's life. Each chapter takes up one of these practices (examen, waiting, engaging, humility, radical prayer, valuing others, empathy, generosity, mercy, purpose, celebration, and service). Learn to take an active stance and look for God in places you have never imagined.

Readers often have nebulous childhood memories of the story of Esther as the beautiful teenage girl who is chosen to be the queen of Persia and gets to save the Jewish people. Altrock rescues the story of Esther from its fairy-tale/Arabian-nights status. He takes it off the children's book shelf and places it in the adult section employing such hard-hitting words as racism, sexual exploitation, genocide, and hubris. Along the way, Altrock eloquently and convincingly unpacks the core theological theme of Esther: that God is at work in the world bringing about his good purposes not only in ancient Persia but in ordinary lives today.

Dr. Holly Allen, professor of Family Studies and Christian Ministries at Lipscomb University

We live in an age when God is summarily dismissed, banished from the public arena. The cross-currents of this secular age have pushed against those who have faith in Christ, leaving them confused, weary, and sometimes despairing. Behind Esther is a bold push back in the opposite direction to see God everywhere and in everything. To take in Chris Altrock's prescription will leave you energized and filled with hope.

Bill Delvaux, director of Landmark Journey Ministries and author of Heroic: The Surprising Path to True Manhood

The Torah is filled with incredible stories that speak to the deep mysteries of the human heart. Chris Altrock's careful reading of the Esther narrative will enrich you as you think about what it means to be human in our time and place. Faith is not for the faint of the heart. Faith is tested, forged by the fire of suffering and waiting on God. In that spirit, this book shows us how to let Esther serve as our spiritual guide.

Josh Graves, lead minister at Otter Creek Church in Nashville, Tennessee

Chris Altrock serves as the senior preaching minister for the Highland Church of Christ in Memphis, Tennessee. The author of six other books, including Ten-Minute Transformation: Small Spiritual Steps that Revolutionize Your Life, Chris is a trained spiritual director, and he teaches as an adjunct professor. He and his wife, Kendra, have two children.