Esther: Courage

And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish! Esther 4:16

In the 1939 movie spectacular, The Wizard of Oz, the cowardly lion wanted courage. He was ashamed to be the king of the jungle, yet fearful. But, before the movie's end, he will find that courage comes from within and that he's had it all along. So what is courage and how is it activated?

First, note that courage takes on many forms. If you're looking for its evidence, it can be seen in everyday life. Here are some examples. After devoting all your time and energy to your kids, facing an empty nest takes courage. To move to a new place and start again takes courage. To tell the truth takes courage, too. But what takes more courage than truth-telling is admitting it in your heart and living towards your confession. It takes courage to face hard news or a terminal diagnosis. It takes great courage to lose a loved one and even more courage to watch them suffer. It takes courage to face many things about this life, including living for Jesus. Being His witness in these tumultuous times takes courage. So here’s the question: What is courage?

Simply stated, courage is the absence of fear. Courage requires mental or moral strength to resist opposition, danger, or hardship. Courage implies firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty. Courage is strength in the face of pain or grief. If you’re ever heard, “I’m sorry, we’ve done all we can, it’s in God’s hands now,” you know what courage demands. In this life, to rise above life’s hardships and injustice, courage is required.

It’s not a new concept. God has encouraged us to be courageous and trust Him from the beginning of time. Even in Esther’s days, courage was needed. And when she said, “If I perish, I perish,” it was without fear and with great courage, inner strength, and hope in God. Where did her courage come from? It was within her all along, but she harnessed it in prayer.

Esther had required that all the Jews fast with her three days, promising, then to go uninvited before the king. You may be thinking, I see that she fasted, but where is the evidence of prayers? In the Old Testament, fasting and prayer are synonymous, so “the praying” is implied. So, she did; and they did! And the victory was won, right there – before she ever went before the king – it was accomplished. When she was ready, she stood tall and courageous, knowing that she was prayed up and strengthened by the hands of heaven. Then, being fully persuaded that it was accomplished, Esther took a deep breath and stood before the king. Fearless and full of divine courage!

Yes! Courage was the order of the day, and God prevailed. To accomplish His plan and save His people, God steadied Esther and gave her strength to put on her royal robes and appear in the king’s court, uninvited. The Bible records: “So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand” (Esther 5:2) (Emphasis added).

What’s the takeaway? If you need more courage:

1. Follow Esther’s lead and pray.

2. Entreat others to pray with you.

3. Ask them to pray with you not for you.

Esther was leading the Jews of Persia well, as all seasoned believers should. When we invite others to pray, it takes courage and increases our faith and theirs. But, most importantly, it makes way for a miracle that’s wrought only through prayer. And when a breakthrough comes, it is sweet indeed!

Prayers like these strengthen us from the inside out and shift our focus from us to God – and rightly so! When more courage is needed, we should follow Esther’s lead. Times like these provide opportunities for us to seek divine help, guidance, healing, provision, and unity to do God’s work God’s way, as Esther has demonstrated in queenly fashion.

So the next time more courage is needed, remember Esther. Pray and invite others to pray with you. And, then, lay your petitions at God’s throne of grace and draw strength and courage from Him. He is ready and willing to supply our needs.

Prayer: Mighty and gracious Lord, give us the courage to be your witness in these trying times. Undergird us with strength and power from on high and then send us out, as you did, Esther. Give us the vision first through prayer and hope in the outcome. We trust in you! Amen and amen.