What would you do if an entire people were facing destruction and you were the one
person in a position to do something about it?
This week we continue our series of ‘Women in the Bible’ series discussing Esther. The
Queen!
Imagine this.
You are living in a world where one wrong decision could cost you everything. You have
influence, but you cannot use it freely. You have access to power but approaching that power
without permission could cost you your life.
And now, a devastating threat has emerged against your people.
You could remain silent.
You could protect your position, keep your head down, and hope someone else steps forward.
Or you could walk into the presence of the most powerful man in the kingdom—knowing
you may not walk back out.
There is no guarantee of safety.
No certainty of success.
No promise that your courage will be rewarded.
There is simply a choice.
Stay silent or risk everything.
This is the tension at the heart of one of the Bible’s most remarkable stories about a woman,
and it raises a question that reaches far beyond the ancient world:
What if you were placed where you are because someone, somewhere, needs you to be
brave?
Her name was Esther.
She was a young Jewish woman who unexpectedly became queen of Persia. But her royal
position was about to become far more significant than she could have imagined.
When a plot was set in motion to destroy her people, Esther found herself facing an
impossible decision. She could protect herself – or use her position to speak on behalf of
those who had no voice in the palace.
Her cousin Mordecai confronted her with a question that would change everything:
“And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” — Esther 4:14
Those words have echoed through generations because Esther’s story isn’t simply about
becoming a queen. It is about what we do when our moment of courage arrives.
When Silence Is No Longer an Option
There are moments in life when staying quiet feels safer.
We may tell ourselves that:
Someone else will speak.
Someone else will act.
Someone else will step forward.
Esther faced exactly that kind of moment.
She could protect her position and remain silent, or she could use her influence to advocate
for her people.
But speaking up wasn’t without consequences. Approaching the king without being
summoned could cost Esther her life.
This wasn’t simply a decision about being brave. It was a decision about whether she was
willing to risk her own security for the sake of others.
Courage Doesn’t Mean the Absence of Fear
One of the most powerful things about Esther’s story is that courage doesn’t come easily.
Esther didn’t simply rush into the king’s presence. She called for her people to fast, prepared
herself, and then made the decision to act.
Her courage was not the absence of fear.
Her courage was choosing to act despite the fear.
Sometimes we imagine courageous people as those who aren’t afraid. But often, courage
looks like taking the next step while your heart is still racing. I can relate so much! There’ve
been times in my own life where I have to make challenging decisions that I know is of GOD
or present and always needed courage. Heart racing, feeling like I needed to race to the loo
BUT God. Trusting HIM and always inviting Him has helped me a lot. The scripture that
comes to mind, which I always share with my children to encourage them, is from the book of Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG
“ Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for GOD’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go. He’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
Learn to hear God’s voice and trust Him.
Sometimes, we may need to have the difficult conversations with others.
Speaking up when something is wrong.
Standing up for someone who cannot speak for themselves.
Taking a step of faith when you don’t know how everything will unfold.
Esther reminds us that courage is often a decision before it becomes a feeling.
“For Such a Time as This”
Perhaps the most memorable phrase associated with Esther’s story is “for such a time as
this.” Mordecai’s words challenged Esther to see her position differently.
Her circumstances weren’t simply about her.
Her influence wasn’t simply for her own benefit.
Her position gave her an opportunity to make a difference.
And that raises an uncomfortable question for us:
What if where you are right now isn’t just about you?
What if your workplace, your family, your community, your platform, or your influence gives
you an opportunity to help someone else?
We don’t always get to choose the circumstances we’re placed in. But we do have choices
about how we respond to them.
The Power of One Woman
Esther’s story is a reminder that one person’s decision can have consequences far beyond
what they can see.
She wasn’t a warrior leading an army.
She didn’t have unlimited power.
Yet she used the influence she had.
Her story demonstrates that significance doesn’t always begin with having the biggest
platform or the loudest voice.
Sometimes it begins with simply being willing to say:
“I will step forward.”
What Is Your “For Such a Time as This”?
Esther’s story invites us to look at our own lives.
Perhaps there is a situation where you’ve been hesitant to speak.
Perhaps you’ve been waiting for someone else to take the lead.
Perhaps you’re questioning why you’ve been placed in a particular environment or given a
particular opportunity. These are questions, I have asked myself numerous times but then
again, always have to trust God.
Esther’s story doesn’t promise that stepping forward will be easy.
It reminds us that sometimes the most important moments require courage.
And sometimes, the opportunity to make a difference arrives at precisely the moment when
we feel least prepared.
Esther didn’t know how her story would end when she walked into the king’s presence.
She simply chose to take the step in front of her.
Maybe that’s the challenge for us too.
Not to have every answer.
Not to know exactly how everything will unfold.
But to recognise the moments that matter and have the courage to step into them.
Because perhaps your “such a time as this” is closer than you think.
Click on the link to listen to this week’s podcast on Esther. Courage, Purpose & the
Power of One Woman!! – Lydia Speaks | Podcast on Spotify
Until next time, stay blessed and focus on The Lord!!!
