Light in the WaitingQueen Esther's Brave Choice
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Have you ever had to do something right, even though it was scary?
The illustrated story
Listen to the story
Read aloud with a generated voice, so little ones can follow along.
Read the story
Esther was an ordinary Jewish girl, far from her homeland, who became queen in the great kingdom of Persia. She lived in a palace now, with a crown and beautiful robes, but she never forgot who she was, and she never forgot her God.
One day, terrible news reached her. A proud man named Haman, the most powerful man in the kingdom after the king himself, had made a plan to destroy all the Jewish people. Esther’s cousin Mordecai, who had raised her like a father, sent her a message: “You must go to the king. You must speak for your people.”
Esther was afraid, and she had good reason to be. In Persia, nobody could walk in to see the king, not even the queen. Anyone who came without being invited could be put to death. “Everyone knows this law,” she sent back to Mordecai.
Mordecai’s answer changed everything.
“Who knows if you haven’t come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Esther 4:14
Maybe, said Mordecai, God had let an ordinary girl become a queen for exactly this moment.
Esther made her choice. “Fast and pray for me for three days,” she said, “and I will go to the king. And if I die, I die.” For three days she prayed. Then she put on her royal robes and walked into the king’s court, uninvited.
The king looked up. And instead of anger, there was kindness in his face. He held out his golden sceptre and welcomed her. “What would you like, Queen Esther? I will give you as much as half the kingdom.”
Esther did not rush. She invited the king and Haman to a special meal, and then to a second one. And there, at the table, she bravely told the truth: “Someone has made a plan to destroy me and all my people.” The king was shocked. “Who would dare?” he asked. Esther answered, “This wicked Haman.”
The king listened, and Haman’s plan failed completely. God’s people were safe, and the whole kingdom knew it was the courage of one young queen, in the right place at the right time, that God had used to save them.
What we learn
God can use us right where we are, and courage can help other people.
Family prayer
Dear God, help us be brave when doing the right thing is hard. Use us to help others, and teach us to trust You. Amen.
A verse to remember
Who knows if you haven't come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
Esther 4:14
Say it together a few times, then see who can say it alone.
Talk about it together
- Why was Esther afraid to go to the king?
- Who asked Esther to help, and what did she ask her people to do before she went?
- Esther was in the right place at the right time. What good things has God put you in the right place to do?
Read it in the Bible: Esther 4:10–16.
Questions or a message for us?
If you have a question about this story, or you would like to share how your family used it, write to [email protected]. We love hearing from readers.
