For Such a Time as This: What Esther Teaches Us About Obedience
“Perhaps you were made queen for a time such as this.”
The story of an orphaned Jewish girl who became Queen of Persia reminds us that God blesses obedience and courage — and in Esther’s case, her obedience saved an entire people.
If you’ve seen Frozen 2, you might remember the scene where Anna is trapped deep in a cave, believing her sister Elsa has died and watching Olaf disintegrate in front of her. She’s stuck in total darkness, desperate and afraid. And then something inside her rises up in courage, and she sings “The Next Right Thing” — just take the one next step forward. She steps forward, saves the day, and ends up crowned Queen of Arendelle.
I love that theme: take the next obedient step. And it’s the perfect way into the story of Esther, a girl who stepped forward in obedience and courage of her own.
From Orphan to Queen
Esther was a young Jewish orphan living in a Gentile world within the Persian Empire, raised by her cousin Mordecai. Through a wild series of events — one worth reading the full book of Esther to catch, including the story of the previous queen, Vashti — Esther becomes the new Queen of Persia.
Esther 2:16-18 (CSB) says: “Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus in the palace in the tenth month, the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. The king loved Esther more than all the other women. She won more favor and approval from him than did any of the other virgins. He placed the royal crown on her head and made her queen in place of Vashti. The king held a great banquet for all his officials and staff. It was Esther’s banquet. He freed his provinces from tax payments and gave gifts worthy of the king’s bounty.”
This orphan girl rises to become queen — beautiful, wise, and highly favored. And all was well, until the king’s right-hand man, Haman, devises an evil plan to destroy the Jewish people, including Esther’s own cousin Mordecai.
The Weight of the Decision
Mordecai learns of the plan and appeals to Esther to boldly approach King Xerxes and expose it. There was just one problem: approaching the king uninvited was against the law, punishable by death, unless the king extended his scepter. And there was Esther, holding the fate of her entire people in her hands, the only one positioned to intervene.
She was afraid, understandably. When she expressed that fear to Mordecai, he responded with the now well-known charge, found in Esther 4:14 (CSB): “Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this.” Maybe this is exactly why you’re here, Esther. What will you do about it?
Esther asked Mordecai and all the Jews in the city to fast for three days alongside her. Then she would go to the king — even against the law, even if it cost her life. Can you imagine sitting in that decision? The fear, the faith, the courage, all wrapped into one single choice: step forward in obedience, or shrink back?
Esther chose to go. Her life was spared — and so were the lives of her entire people. Her obedience, courage, and faith saved a population. She could pursue comfort, or she could pursue her calling, but not both. She chose the calling, and it rippled into blessing for everyone connected to her.
Obedience Has a Ripple Effect
I’ve watched this play out in my own life recently. Back in May, my family and I took a walk down our gravel road, and I told them I felt the Lord tugging me to step back into this podcast. They encouraged me, and we talked about all sorts of things — the podcast, maybe books someday, whatever else might be ahead in ministry. Their support gave me the push to take those obedient steps forward, and here we are.
Then in June, my husband and I were on our 20th anniversary trip to Wisconsin, talking about personal and spiritual growth and encouraging each other to take our own next obedient steps. As his step, he enrolled in a men’s workshop called Rise Up Kings, and committed to their full program starting this fall. Since then, I’ve watched real, beautiful change ripple through our marriage, his fatherhood, his relationship with our kids, even our business. It’s touched my own heart too — my emotional health, my hope for the future, my whole demeanor.
That’s the thing about obedience: blessing follows it, and it rarely stays contained to just the person who took the step.
The blessing is always on the other side of obedience. It’s simply up to you to take the first step toward it. Luke 1:45 (CSB) says, “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what he has spoken to her.” The blessing is waiting for you too. The only question is whether you’ll step toward it in obedience and courage, the way Esther did.
A Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the story of Esther, for her courage and her obedience, and for showing us through her life that we can be courageous too. Help us step forward in faith, knowing there’s blessing waiting on the other side. Help us be strong, be wise, be courageous, and be obedient to Your Word and Your calling on our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Let’s Stay Connected
Head over to katiehedrick.com to connect with me — you’ll find all my socials there, and you can reach me directly by email. While you’re there, download my free five-day devotional, Joyful Moments With Jesus.
Keep stepping forward in wisdom and obedience. I’ll see you next time.