Reflections

What moves me was her response to her cousin and guardian, Mordecai, who had exhorted her:

"Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place … And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13-14).

This pivotal moment in her story stays with me. Evil Haman had devised a plan to annihilate the Jews in the Persian Empire, and Queen Esther faced a terrible dilemma: she wanted to approach the king in order to plead for her people, but approaching the king without being called was illegal and punishable by death unless he extended his golden sceptre to spare her life.

But inspired by Mordecai’s words, Esther chose to act bravely. “If I perish, I perish,” she resolved. Her courage and faith were rewarded—she won the king’s favour, overturned the deadly decree, and saved her people.

Reflecting on her story, I see parallels with my own struggles during moments of uncertainty and fear. I’ve faced crises where I questioned my role and wondered, Why am I here? Why do I have to deal with this? Should I step back and let someone else handle it? At times, I wished I could vanish altogether.

Yet, Mordecai’s words echo in my mind: “And who knows whether you have not come … for such a time as this?”  

This phrase has often helped me pause and reconsider my position. It reminds me to submit to God’s wisdom, trusting that He has placed me exactly where I am meant to be. Looking back, I’ve found myself grateful for those moments, even when they were challenging. Recently, I felt prompted to revisit the book, praying for the Holy Spirit to reveal fresh insights. This time, I was struck by something that I had previously overlooked: Esther’s call for fasting. 

Before stepping into the king’s court, she asked her people to join her in fasting for three days and nights. It was this collective intercession and her trust in God that gave her the courage to take that monumental step.

I’ve seen the power of prayer and community in my life. Once, when I was still a Singapore PR, I had asked a prayer group to pray for me before I went to renew the validity of my passport at the high commissioner’s office. I had to take time off work to make that trip. Unexpectedly, the office was closed when I arrived there. I was so frustrated. 

Because I could not renew my passport’s validity, I could not book the flight for our family trip on time. I was deeply disappointed, but I chose not to complain. Surely, God is in control. Knowing that others were praying for me strengthened my faith and confidence in God’s providence. I wondered if Queen Esther had that same assurance when she entered the king’s court that day.

Two weeks later, when I finally renewed my passport’s validity, the same plane tickets were available at an $800 discount! I was stunned and overwhelmed with gratitude, not just for the discount, but for the peace that God gave me in the waiting. Indeed, prayer doesn’t just change circumstances; it transforms our hearts, anchoring us in the assurance of God’s presence and guidance. This experience came from reading God’s Word.

What about you? What has reading His Word revealed to you about God’s character or the way he carries out his purposes? Did your new insights help you change the course of your actions? 

I encourage you to explore Scripture for yourself. Start small—a short book or a single chapter—and ask the Spirit to enlighten you. God has promised that the Comforter will come to “guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).

May your journey into His Word be filled with discovery, encouragement, and a deeper understanding of His plans for you.