For Such a Time Queen Esther Arose
Image of resolute Queen Esther from the children's picture book Queen Esther by Arabella Penrose
There are moments when God calls us not just to speak, but to risk everything—even our very lives—for His purposes. Most of us will never know what it feels like to walk toward death to save others. To know that each step forward could be our last. To understand that our next words could either save thousands or seal our own doom. Yet this was exactly what Queen Esther faced when she arose from her chambers to approach the king's throne uninvited.
In ancient Persia, such an act could mean death. There was no appeals process, no chance for explanation—only the swift fall of the executioner's blade. Unless the king extended his golden scepter, Esther's decision to arise from her secure position would be her last earthly act. The stakes could not have been higher: remain seated in the safety of silence and watch her people perish, or rise up and risk everything in hopes of saving them.
A Queen in Crisis
In ancient Persia, Queen Esther lived a life of privilege few could imagine. Yet her position came with a dangerous secret—she was Jewish, a fact hidden from even the king himself. In those days, being Jewish in Persia meant living as an exile, viewed with suspicion and prejudice. When Haman, a powerful royal official, manipulated the king into decreeing death for all Jews in the kingdom, Esther's cousin Mordecai delivered a stark message: she must approach the king unsummoned, reveal her identity, and plead for her people.
An illustration of Mordecai speaking urgently to Queen Esther from the Book Queen Esther by Arabella Penrose.
Conviction from God
The stakes were high. Persian law dictated that anyone approaching the king without invitation faced the possibility of death. Even queens weren't exempt from this rule. Esther had not been summoned for thirty days—a detail that hinted at her precarious position in court.
Even in her fear, Esther felt a deep conviction from God that she must act. Her famous words still echo through history: "If I perish, I perish" (Esther 4:16). This wasn't fatalism—it was faithful surrender to God's purpose.
In our own lives, God's call often comes with tension. Although not nearly as drastic, when I discovered issues in my church that were affecting its congregants, my conflict-avoidant nature wanted to stay quiet. Speaking to leadership meant risking relationships in the community. Yet like Esther, I felt that conviction from God that silence wasn't an option.
Dependence on God
Esther knew that courage alone wouldn't be enough—she needed God. Her response reveals profound wisdom: she called for all the Jews in Susa to fast and pray with her for three days before she approached the throne. She understood that only God could soften the king's heart and equip her for the task ahead.
This combination of action and dependence marked her path forward. While our circumstances may differ vastly from Esther's life-or-death moment, the principle of depending on God remains unchanged. I learned this when God called me to lead a Bible study in my second language and I felt utterly inadequate. But Esther's example taught me that God's calling comes with God's enabling. Like her, I prayed and moved forward in obedience.
The Cost of Courage
Esther's position as queen, far from making things easier, actually raised the stakes. She had found favor with the king and lived in luxury. By revealing her Jewish identity and opposing Haman's plot, she wasn't just risking death—she was certainly sacrificing her royal position and possibly facing public shame as her identity came to light.
Yet Esther recognized that her position wasn't about personal privilege—it was about God’s purpose. As Mordecai told her, perhaps she had come to the kingdom "for such a time as this" (Esther 4:14). When standing for truth and justice, God often asks us to put obedience above earthly security.
Speaking Truth to Power
After three days of prayer, Esther orchestrated a brilliant plan. Rather than rushing in with accusations, she wisely invited both the king and Haman to two separate banquets. Her timing and approach demonstrate that courage partners well with wisdom. At the perfect moment, she revealed both her Jewish identity and Haman's genocidal plot.
Queen Esther sits at a banquet table with King Xerxes. Scene from the book of Queen Esther by Arabella Penrose.
The courage to speak truth to power rarely comes naturally. It requires us to trust God's timing and wisdom while being ready to face the consequences. While my situation held far less peril than Esther's, I learned valuable lessons when confronting church leadership. Her example taught me that even in less dire circumstances, we still need careful preparation, prayerful timing, and readiness to speak truth boldly when God calls.
Faithful Leadership
Esther's story shines a light on how God uses ordinary people in extraordinary ways, even when it seems uncertain and dangerous. Her example teaches us that real leadership isn't about a title or position—it's about responding to God's call with conviction, wisdom, and courage.
Today, you might be facing your own "such a time as this" moment. Perhaps God is asking you to speak up about injustice at work, confront a difficult situation in your family, or take a stand that could cost you relationships or opportunities. Like Esther, you can be certain that God's calling comes with God's enabling.
What situation in your life requires Esther-like courage? What's holding you back? Remember, the same God who positioned and empowered Esther stands ready to work through you today.
Your "such a time as this" moment awaits. Will you, like Esther, choose to be brave?
Introduce your children to Queen Esther’s powerful story with my children’s picture book, Queen Esther: A Rhyming Bible Story of Bravery, Determination, and Resilience.
Esther stands in palace in royal attire. Scene from the rhyming bible story, Queen Esther, by Arabella Penrose
