For Such a Time as This

For Such a Time as This

Esther 4:13–14

INTRODUCTION:

Have you ever paused and wondered: Why am I here? Why this moment? Why this season of life?

Sometimes it’s easy to think life is random—a mix of chance, luck, or coincidence. But Scripture insists otherwise. Our God is sovereign. He rules and reigns. And He places His people in very specific times and places for very specific purposes.

That’s exactly what we see in the book of Esther. Here’s a young Jewish woman, an orphan raised in exile, who unexpectedly becomes queen of Persia. She didn’t audition for this role, she didn’t campaign for it. Yet in God’s providence, she found herself in the palace at the exact moment her people faced extermination.

When the crisis came, her cousin Mordecai gave her these unforgettable words:

“Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” — Esther 4:13–14 (NIV)

This is more than a historical moment. It’s a timeless call. Esther had to decide whether she would shrink back in fear or step forward in faith. And so do we.

TRANSITION:

The book of Esther is unique in all of Scripture. Nowhere in its ten chapters do we find the name of God explicitly mentioned. No prayers are recorded. No prophets speak directly. But while His name is not written on the page, His presence is clearly woven into the story.

Here’s how the story unfolds:

A young Jewish girl named Esther, who had lost both her parents, is raised by her cousin Mordecai. Against all odds, she is chosen to become queen of Persia. At first, no one knows she’s Jewish.

Meanwhile, Mordecai uncovers a plot to assassinate the king. He reports it, and his loyalty is written in the royal records—but nothing more happens at that time.

Then comes Haman, the villain of the story. He rises to power and persuades the king to issue a decree to destroy all the Jews. It looks like the end.

But one night, the king can’t sleep. He asks for the chronicles to be read to him, and “just so happens” to hear the record of Mordecai saving his life. The very next morning, Haman enters—ready to request Mordecai’s execution—but instead he’s ordered to honor him publicly in the streets!

Finally, Esther risks her life by approaching the king without being summoned. At a banquet, she reveals her Jewish identity and exposes Haman’s plot. In an incredible twist of irony, Haman is executed on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai.

Do you see it? God’s name may not be written on the page, but His fingerprints are all over the story. Every twist, every turn, every “coincidence” is the providence of God.

It’s like watching a play where the director never steps onto the stage. You don’t see him, but you know he’s there—because the actors, the lighting, the timing, everything flows under his direction. That’s how God works in Esther—and often how He works in our lives.

Application: This is encouragement for us. Sometimes in life we don’t see God’s name written across the sky. We don’t hear His audible voice. But later, when we look back, we see His fingerprints everywhere—in conversations, in opportunities, in closed doors, in divine appointments.

With that backdrop, we come to Esther’s defining moment in chapter 4. Mordecai challenges her to see that her royal position wasn’t accidental. It was providential.

MESSAGE:

1. Recognize God’s Sovereign Hand in Your Story

Mordecai told Esther: “If you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place…” (v. 14)

In that single sentence, Mordecai expresses an unshakable confidence in the sovereignty of God. He knows that the God of Israel has promised to preserve His people. The covenant will not fail. The Messiah will come. Nothing—no edict from a Persian king, no scheme of a wicked official, no silence from a hesitant queen—can stop God’s purposes.

But here is the tension: while God’s plans cannot be thwarted, He chooses to carry them out through human obedience. That is the mystery of providence. Esther’s silence would not derail God’s redemptive plan, but it would mean she would miss the privilege of being part of it. God’s mission will move forward—with us or without us. The real question is whether we will join Him in what He is doing.

We see this same pattern in the life of Joseph. Betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and forgotten in prison—it looked like his life was spinning out of control. Yet in God’s sovereign plan, each step was placement, not accident. Years later, Joseph could look his brothers in the eye and say, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20). What seemed random and cruel was actually God’s hand guiding history.

Application: The same is true for you. Your story may feel ordinary—or even filled with pain and disappointment—but your circumstances are not random. They are placement. That job you think of as just a paycheck may actually be your mission field. That neighborhood where you live may be the place God has positioned you to influence a neighbor for eternity. That season of suffering you walked through may be the very testimony God will use to encourage someone else who is hurting.

Recognizing God’s sovereign hand reframes how we see our lives. We stop asking, “Why am I here?” and start asking, “God, what are You doing here, and how can I join You?”

Once we see God’s providence at work, we are faced with the same decision Esther had: Will we remain silent and let the opportunity pass by, or will we step forward in faith and courage to be part of God’s unfolding plan?

2. Resist the Temptation of Silence and Safety

Mordecai said: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape.” (v. 13)

At first glance, Esther might have thought her position gave her protection. After all, she lived in the palace, surrounded by guards and privilege. Yet Mordecai dismantles this illusion: silence and self-preservation are not truly safe. Esther’s silence would not shield her; it would only separate her from God’s purpose.

This is one of the great temptations of faith—believing that silence will spare us. It feels safer to keep quiet, to blend in, to protect our comfort. But silence, in the end, costs us more than it saves.

The prophet Jonah is an example of this temptation. God told him to go to Nineveh and preach, but Jonah ran in the opposite direction, trying to avoid the cost of obedience. His silence didn’t save him; it nearly destroyed him. Only when Jonah surrendered to God’s call did he experience both rescue and effectiveness.

Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer faced this same choice during the rise of Hitler. He could have fled Germany and lived safely in America, but he returned, saying, “I must live through this difficult period of our national history with the Christian people of Germany.” His courage cost him his life, but his voice still speaks today as a witness against silence in the face of evil.

Imagine a lifeguard at the pool who notices someone struggling in the water. What would you think if the lifeguard shrugged and said, “Well, I don’t want to cause a scene, and someone else will probably step in”? That silence would be unthinkable. Yet spiritually, how often do we stand by quietly while people around us are drowning in sin, fear, or despair—because we convince ourselves silence is safer?

Application: Silence is not just failing to speak in moments of crisis; it can be a pattern in our lives.

• Silence when we know a coworker needs to hear the hope of Christ.
• Silence when we see a friend slipping into destructive choices.
• Silence when the world mocks God’s truth, and we quietly nod rather than graciously stand.

The truth is this: silence doesn’t protect us. It diminishes us. Safety without obedience is no safety at all. The temptation of silence is real—but it must be resisted.

Faith is never safe. That’s why Mordecai pressed Esther to embrace her calling — which brings us to the third point of this passage:

3. Respond Courageously to God’s Call

“And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (v. 14)

This is more than a motivational statement; it is a theological declaration. Mordecai reframes Esther’s crown, not as privilege but as purpose. She wasn’t queen just to enjoy the luxuries of the palace. She was queen because God had placed her there for a moment of destiny.

This is what courage looks like—not the absence of fear, but obedience in spite of fear. Esther knew the risks. To enter the king’s presence uninvited was to invite death. Yet she declared in verse 16: “I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

Biblical Parallels:

• Think of Moses standing before Pharaoh, saying, “Let my people go.” He wasn’t eloquent or confident, but he was obedient.
• Think of David standing before Goliath with nothing but a sling and faith. He wasn’t the strongest, but he was courageous.
• Think of Peter and John before the Sanhedrin declaring, “We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). They weren’t educated men, but they were Spirit-filled.

Each of these moments echoes Mordecai’s words: for such a time as this.

On September 11, 2001, while crowds fled the collapsing towers, firefighters and first responders ran toward the danger. Why? Because they knew: This is our moment. This is why we are here. Esther’s moment was in the Persian palace. Their moment was in New York City. Your moment might be in a classroom, an office, a hospital room, or a neighborhood.

Application: So, what does responding courageously look like today?

• It might mean standing up for integrity at work when cutting corners would be easier.
• It might mean leading your family in prayer even if it feels awkward at first.
• It might mean sharing Christ with a friend, even at the risk of rejection.
• It might mean saying yes to a ministry opportunity that scares you.

Esther reminds us: courage is not just for kings and queens, prophets and martyrs. It’s for ordinary believers who realize their moment is right now.

And here’s the good news: courage is not something we manufacture on our own. Esther fasted and called her people to fast with her because she knew courage flows from dependence on God. In the same way, the Holy Spirit empowers us to stand, speak, and act with boldness when the moment comes.

Conclusion

Esther’s courage changed history. Because she stepped into her moment, God delivered His people.

But Esther’s story points us to an even greater story. Centuries later, another Deliverer would step forward—not into a Persian palace, but into our broken world. Not at the risk of His life, but at the cost of His life.

Where Esther said, “If I perish, I perish,”

Jesus said, “I will perish, so they may live.”

On the cross, Jesus gave His life to rescue His people—not from Haman’s decree, but from sin and death itself. His resurrection guarantees deliverance for all who believe.

Friends, the same God who placed Esther in the palace has placed you in this moment of history. Your “palace” may look like a classroom, an office, a home, or a neighborhood. But the principle is the same: you are here for such a time as this.

The question is not whether God’s mission will move forward—it will. The question is: Will you step into your moment with courage and faith? And even more—will you trust the One who has already stepped in for you?

Altar Call

This morning, maybe you’re here and you’ve been tempted to believe your life is random. Maybe you’ve struggled to see God’s hand in your story. But today you’ve been reminded: God’s fingerprints are all over your life. He’s placed you for such a time as this.

For some of you, the step you need to take is courage—to speak, to act, to trust God in a situation where silence feels safer. For others, the step is surrender—giving your life to Jesus, the greater Deliverer, who gave His life for you.

If you’ve never trusted Him as Savior and Lord, today is your moment. Just as Esther stepped into her moment, you can step into yours right now by saying “yes” to Jesus.

(Pause)

I want to invite you to come. If you need courage, come. If you need to surrender your life to Christ, come and allow one of our pastors or prayer team leaders to meet you here at the altars and pray with you to receive God’s grace. 

Step into your moment for such a time as this.

Closing Prayer

Lord, thank You for reminding us through Esther’s story that our lives are not accidents. You have placed us here, in this generation, in this season, for Your purposes. Thank You for Jesus, our greater Deliverer. The one who gave His life so that we might live. Forgive us for the times we’ve chosen silence and comfort over courage and faith. Today, we ask for the boldness to step into our calling, to speak truth with love, and to trust that You are with us — always! Help us now, to live faithfully, knowing we have been placed here on earth for such a time as this! We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.