Esther – When Courage is Born in the Dark

Have you ever felt the weight of a moment when everything hangs in the balance? When you know God has positioned you "for such a time as this," but your knees are shaking and your heart is racing? Esther's story isn't just about a beauty queen turned queen – it's about finding courage in the crucible of prayer.

The Persian palace halls whispered with secrets that day. Behind the doors and silk curtains, a young queen carried the weight of her people's survival. This wasn't what she'd imagined when she'd first entered the palace gates. The perfumes, the privileges, the power – they had all seemed like a dream. Now they felt like a divine setup for this pivotal moment. One wrong word to the king, and she could lose everything. Silence, and she would lose even more.

But here's what strikes me about Esther's response – before she acted, she fasted. Before she confronted the king, she fell on her knees. "Do not eat or drink for three days," she instructed her people. These weren't just hunger pangs; this was desperate dependence on God. In those three days of emptying herself, she was filled with holy courage.

I wonder what those three days felt like. Did she wrestle with fear in the midnight hours? Did she remember her cousin Mordecai's words about God's design placing her in her position? Did she feel the prayers of her people strengthening her spirit? What we know is that something had changed when she emerged from those three days. Her declaration, "If I perish, I perish," wasn't fatalistic – it was faithful. She had found courage not in the absence of fear, but in the presence of God.

Sometimes we think courage means not feeling afraid. But Esther teaches us that true courage moves forward even when our hearts tremble. It's saying yes to God's call even when it costs us everything. Her story reminds us that before every act of public courage, there's often a private battle won on our knees.

Soul Care Moment

Find a quiet place and write down what makes you afraid right now. Then, like Esther, call for backup – reach out to 2-3 trusted prayer partners who will stand with you in prayer. Sometimes courage is born in community.

Prayer Prompt

Lord, like Esther, I stand at a crossroads today. You've placed me here, in this moment, with this challenge before me. The stakes feel high, and my courage feels small. I'm choosing now to fast from my own strength and feast on Your presence. Fill me with holy courage that outlasts my fear. Show me how to use my position, my voice, and my influence for Your purposes. And like Esther, help me trust that You have placed me here for such a time as this. Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. What situation in your life requires Esther-like courage right now?
2. How might fasting and prayer prepare you for the challenges you face?
3. Who are the people God has placed in your life to support you in prayer during difficult times?

Today's Truth to Carry

Prayer is where courage is formed.