Esther: Courage for Such a Time
Women in Faith 002
Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
Sometimes God places us in situations that require courage. Other times, the very calling He has given us demands it. Whether we are standing for truth, sharing the gospel, defending what is right, or simply obeying God when it is unpopular, courage is not the absence of fear—it is obedience in the midst of it.
One woman who beautifully exemplifies this kind of faith is Queen Esther.
Esther's story began long before she wore a crown. She was a young Jewish woman living in exile who had lost both of her parents and was raised by her cousin Mordecai. Esther 2:7 “And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.” From the world's perspective, she seemed ordinary. Yet God was quietly arranging every detail of her life for a purpose she could not yet see.
When Queen Vashti was removed, Esther was chosen to become queen of Persia. Esther 2:17 “And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.” What appeared to be a fortunate turn of events was actually God's providence at work. He was placing Esther exactly where she needed to be before the crisis ever arrived.
Esther was brought into a strange land for a long amount of time, still she was patient and did not run form the will of God. The Bible suggests that Mordecai did not have direct access to Esther during her purification, but he was able to stay informed about her well-being. Given the customs of the Persian court, the women in the king's harem lived in seclusion, and access to them was tightly controlled. It's therefore unlikely that Mordecai was allowed to visit Esther personally during the twelve months of purification. Esther 2:11 “And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.” All alone inside the castle walls God began to work on Esther to mold her into being the courageous person she needed to be.
Then came Haman's wicked decree to destroy the Jewish people. Mordecai challenged Esther with words that have encouraged believers for generations: Esther 4:14 “For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Esther understood the cost of obedience. Entering the king's presence without being summoned could mean death. Yet instead of shrinking back in fear, she called God's people to fast and prepared herself to act. Esther 4:16 “Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.”
We all know how the story of Esther turns out and how God used her to save an entire nation! If you need a refresher I invite you to re-read His word so that you might have a renewed faith like I have gotten since re-visiting!
Like Esther, we often wish God would show us the outcome before asking for our obedience. But faith rarely works that way. God calls us to take the first step, trusting that He is already preparing the rest of the journey. There may come a day when standing for Christ costs you acceptance, comfort, friendships, opportunities, or popularity. The question is not whether courage will be required, but whether we will trust God enough to obey when it is. The same God who strengthened Esther promises His presence to us today.
Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Don't let fear keep you from fulfilling the purpose God has prepared for you. He will strengthen you and will equip you for the journey ahead.
