As Esther’s story of courage and faith unfolds, her adoptive father, Mordecai, urgently pleads with Esther—now queen—to intercede with the king and save her people. With bravery, she approaches the king. He welcomes her warmly by raising his scepter. When he asks what she desires, Esther invites him and Haman—the villain of the story—to two special banquets. At the second banquet, after the king has had a bit too much to drink, he turns to Esther and says, “What is your wish? Ask anything you want, and I’ll give it to you—even half my kingdom.”

Esther looks at the king and says, “This is all I ask: spare my life.” The king, surprised, asks what she means. Esther continues, “And spare the life of my people.” Confused, the king presses further, and Esther reveals, “There is one of your nobles who has plotted to destroy me and my people.” The king demands to know who would do such a thing. Esther turns to the guest of honor, who is now wide-eyed with fear, and declares, “Him.” Enraged, the king orders that the pole prepared for Mordecai be used for Haman instead, and so the day is saved.

My friend, both Esther and Mordecai lived under a constant cloud of fear; no one knew she was Jewish. Yet, it was Esther’s courage, her trust in the Lord, and her willingness to risk everything that changed the course of events. She could have remained silent, kept her royal status, and lived on with the guilt, but stayed safe. Instead, she chose to risk everything by stepping out in faith and taking action.