For Such a Time as This
“For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
— Esther 4:14
In the quiet corridors of a Persian palace, a moment of divine providence was unfolding. Esther, a young Jewish woman who had risen to the throne by way of a beauty contest, now stood at a crossroads. Her people were under threat, and the choice before her was clear—but not easy. Would she risk everything to speak up?
Mordecai, Esther’s uncle and guardian, challenged her: “Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” It's a powerful reminder that God places us in specific moments, gives us specific roles, and surrounds us with specific relationships for reasons often beyond our understanding.
One striking feature of the book of Esther is that the name of God is never mentioned—not explicitly. Yet His fingerprints are everywhere. Esther’s beauty, her favor with the king, Mordecai’s overhearing of a plot against the king, even the timing of Haman’s evil plan—none of it is coincidence. Providence was quietly moving the pieces into place.
How often do we find ourselves asking, “Why am I here?” or “What good can possibly come from this situation?” The answer might be closer than we think. Like Esther, we may be where we are not by accident, but by divine appointment. God has placed you in your workplace, your family, your community—calling you to be a light and an advocate for Jesus right there.
That call often comes with risk. Esther had to rely on the strength of the Lord. Her actions could have cost her life. Obedience to God doesn’t always come easily—but it always carries eternal significance.
Ask yourself:
Where has God placed you “for such a time as this”?
Are you willing to trust God’s providence, even when His plan isn’t obvious?
How will you respond in faith and obedience to the moment God has placed you in?
In a world full of uncertainty, we can be certain of this: God still calls His people to stand in crucial moments. May we, like Esther, be ready to say, “If I perish, I perish”—but I will not be silent.
Lord, give me the courage to step into the moment You’ve placed me in—for such a time as this. Help me to trust Your purpose and follow You with faith. Amen.
