The Secret of Queen Esther's Courage

In the Bible, there are many secrets of faith that we can imitate, one of them being courage. Everyone has gone through difficult times that stir up fear or worry. Queen Esther of Persia was no exception. Yet, with the courage she had, Esther succeeded in saving the people of Israel from destruction.

What was Esther's secret that made her dare to step forward and overcome great challenges?

Who Was Esther?

Esther, whose Hebrew name was Hadassah, was the adopted daughter of her own uncle, Mordecai, an official in the palace of the Persian king (Esther 2:15). They were among the Jews exiled by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. After Babylon was defeated by Persia, the people of Israel were under the rule of the Persian king.

After making many preparations and going through the selection process, Esther was chosen to replace the former queen of Persia. Her life changed drastically, from an ordinary person to becoming the wife of the king, honored by everyone. Sadly, good situations sometimes do not last long.

When she heard that her people were under threat of being destroyed, Esther did not simply sit quietly in the palace because she felt her position was already safe. She chose to take heart, gather her courage, and fast together, before finally going to the king to plead for the salvation of her people.

Esther's decision was not an easy one. If the king was not pleased with her presence, she could be put to death! Yet Esther still stepped forward, not turning back even though she was afraid. And, the Lord was with her, so the people of Israel were saved.

What made Esther have such a courageous heart?

Secret 1: Esther Did Not Focus on the Problem

“Go, gather all the Jews who are in Susa and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do, and then I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.” – Esther 4:16

Fear can become a reason for us not to do the things God wants. Even though we actually can do them, fear keeps us from stepping forward. Esther faced a dilemma between wanting to save herself or save her people. She had to choose whether to control her fear and take action or play it safe by doing nothing.

When this happened, Esther chose to focus on the things she could do, namely come to God and strengthen her faith. As she fasted together with her people, she humbled herself before God and prayed that God would save her and her people. Esther understood who had power and held control over their lives, and that she could not arrange the final outcome according to her own wishes.

What do we do when we face conditions that are not ideal? Do we tend to want to control the situation? Or do we try to control our hearts and minds so that they remain aligned with what God desires through His word? Do we choose to come to God and strengthen our faith?

Let us learn to focus on the process, namely the things we can control, and not on the outcome. We will not get any result if we do not act and go through the process. Defeat our fears by doing what we can do. Do not worry about the outcome, because that is God's part. Surrender all of it to Him, so that we can step forward boldly and experience God's presence.

Secret 2: Esther Did Not Walk Alone

Queen Esther understood that if she could not get through this challenge in her own strength, she needed God's help and the support of her people. That is why she prayed and fasted. In the end, God was with Esther. He made the king show compassion by extending his golden scepter, even saying, “What is your request, Queen Esther? Even up to half the kingdom will be given to you (Esther 5:2-3)?”

God moved Esther at the right time by inviting Haman to two banquets. God made the king unable to sleep, and for some reason he wanted the historical records to be brought to him. From there, the king learned about Mordecai, who had once saved him from an assassination attempt, so he found favor before the king (Esther 6).

In the end, it was also God who caused Haman to be impaled on the pole he had set up to kill Mordecai (Esther 7:9). All those events were beyond Esther's power. This was the work of God's hand that made everything happen at exactly the right time.

Esther did not think too highly of herself or pretend to be strong, taking all the responsibility alone. In her struggle, she involved her fellow people by asking them to fast for her.

Are we among those who tend to struggle with our own strength, without involving God? Do we often feel awkward or too proud to ask others for help? Do we find it hard to open up so that others can help us more? - Sometimes an overly independent attitude or not wanting to trouble others can make us reluctant to involve other people in our efforts. If we truly need help, we need to be humble and express that we need help.

Remember always to rely on God through prayer to ask for wisdom and help. Open the door of our hearts as well, so that others can come in, help, and fight alongside us.

When you are afraid, what is the source of your courage? The secret of Esther's courage was her choice not to focus on the problem or the outcome, but on what she could do. She also did not walk alone, but walked with God, who was the Source of her Courage. The role of her people or community was a strength for Esther to dare to step forward. Let us follow all of that so that we too may have the courage to overcome every problem. Amen!

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