The King had chosen Esther as the most beautiful young woman in the land to be his Queen.  She went to live in the palace with all its accoutrements lavished upon her.  It was dazzling to be Queen Esther!  No one knew that she was a Jew.  She kept that secret hidden deep within her.

Then one day all that glamour was disturbed.  A decree went out that Jewish people were to be destroyed.  They did not keep the laws that were a profit to the King.  Esther was asked by her family to go to the King to beg his favor and plead to him on behalf of her people.  Her response was “WHO ME?”.  She knew the law of the inner court…Anyone going in to see the King without being summoned would be put to death.

(Previous two paintings by Juan Wijngaard from “Esther’s Story” by Diane Wolkstein)

Esther was faced with a hard choice.  She risked giving up the life of luxury and notoriety.  Indeed, she could be facing death.  Mordecai said to her, “Who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”  (Esther 4:14)

(“Your Turn” by artist Dina Wakley)

Esther realized this was her moment.  It was her turn to make a difference in the world.  Everything she was created to be and everything she was meant to do could be wrapped up in this moment, this time, this place.  She had to say “Yes!”.  She asked all the Jews in the city to fast and pray for her as she prepared to follow what she knew was God’s call to help save her people. She must be brave!

The King received Esther, granted her request, and the Jews were saved.

Perhaps there is “such a time as this” for each of us. In his book “To Bless the Space Between Us”,  John O’Donohue writes this…

Pondering…

Has there been a moment when you felt you were the right person at the right time to make a difference?

When have you had to make a difficult choice for something bigger than yourself?

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