Courage is the ability to do something that frightens you. It is strength in the face of pain or grief. It is that inward push that allows you to do what is right when you know the results may not be positive. Some people seem to have great courage, and others shy away from anything that could possibly bring discomfort. Sometimes courage brings great things, but many never get to experience greatness because of a lack of courage.
Esther was a woman of great courage. In Esther 4:11, Esther is speaking to her cousin Mordecai. He has asked her to go before the King to ask for her people, the Jews, to be spared death. She reminds him that if anyone goes before the King, without the King asking for them to come, there is a chance they will die. If he chooses not to extend the scepter to her she will die.
Esther 4:11 “All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden scepter, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.”
One of the princes of the King, Haman, had been promoted above all the other princes. The King sent a decree that all would bow before him, but Mordecai refused. When Haman realized that Mordecai did not bow, or show him reverence, he sought to kill all the Jews. Mordecai knew Haman was a wicked man. Mordecai had shown great courage himself, but now he will ask Esther to show great courage. At this time Esther had not revealed to anyone that she was a Jew. Now, she was not only going to reveal that she was a Jew, but she would also be asking for all the Jews to be spared.
Esther was willing, knowing that it might cost her own life. At first, she was cautious, knowing the danger involved, but Mordecai reminds her if she doesn’t take the chance she too would perish when it was found out she was a Jew. Now, she would be putting her own life at risk for her people. Sometimes we must all stand when it is unpopular, we must take the risk to step out in faith. However, Esther did not just jump up and go running into the King, she took proper steps to know God was in it. She asked the people to fast and pray. Esther knew that unless she had clarity from God it could all be over for her and her people. We should be no different. We should be facing every day with prayer and when there are tough things to deal with, it is still right to fast and pray. Fasting and prayer brought clarity and hope for deliverance for Esther, and it will do the same for us.
Esther 4:14-16 “For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so, will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.”
Fasting and praying will help us to grow spiritually. It removes distractions and allows us to humbly submit our requests to God. It shows God we are serious about our request when we deny ourselves the pleasures of life to seek Him.
Esther’s response took great courage. She was willing to risk her life for her people but only if God was in it and directing her. How many situations have we failed in because we didn’t seek God’s guidance in prayer and fasting before we entered? So many times, we go in our own strength and we fail. I believe that many times we fail, not because the cause is wrong, but because we show a lack of faith by tackling the task on our own. We need to have the courage to stand for what is right, but not in our own strength. It must be God working through us not us working the plan.
So what is courage? It is the ability to stand for what God says is right. It is allowing God to use us, and work through. It is not for our glorification, but the ultimate purpose of glorifying God, by standing for what God says is right!
