Silent and Secure: The Fear of Losing Position

It’s an ordinary day; the sun is out, the birds are chirping and everyone is where they should be. For Queen Esther, all is well. She’s comfortable now because it’s been five years since she married King Ahasuerus, and she has gotten a chance to fit in with everyone and, learned the routines of the palace. She has no worries, as long as she follows the rules she’s secured. No one has to know her identity (she’s a Jew and her birth name is Hadassah) or that she was never placed in such a position to keep a low profile. Thus, what they don’t know won’t hurt them. Rather, her silence would keep the order, the peace, and of course their approval. 

Suddenly, in the middle of her daze; her servant calls out her name, and passes down an urgent message from her cousin Mordecai. They tell her “Haman has plotted to destroy all of the Jews.” “Letters were sent by couriers to each of the royal provinces telling the officials to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jewish people—young and old, women and children—and plunder their possessions on a single day, the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month” (Esther 3:13 CSB). Her servants also state Mordecai is pleading for her to take action. Yet, Esther hesitates. What if she loses her position? Worse, what if she…dies? No one was to go to the King unless he summoned them. Her life would be at stake, and the unknown began to plague her thoughts. 

However, God reminds her through Mordecai that if she were to fear losing her life or position more than her fear of God; she would not escape the consequences. “Mordecai told the messenger to reply to Esther, “Don’t think that you will escape the fate of all the Jews because you are in the king’s palace. 14 If you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place, but you and your father’s family will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this” (Esther 4:13 CSB). 

The purpose of her royal position was for God’s Kingdom, not her safety net. Instead of staying silent and secure; she lets go and declare, “IF I PERISH, I PERISH” (Esther 4:16). 

Finally, she prepares a three-day fast of no food and water. Afterward, she goes to the King. Later, we learn the King grants her and Mordecai favor, and they both destroy Haman and his evil plan. 

What can we learn from Esther’s story? 

Esther’s story reminds us not to get comfortable with positions, and titles, and with hiding from purpose because when God is ready, He will move us for His glory and Kingdom’s sake. Furthermore, we cannot afford to stay silent about pressing matters when He has given us all right, boldness, and authority to dismantle the plans of the enemy. 

We can’t blame Esther for pausing before taking up the challenge. God did not give her a map, or tell her how it would pan out. In her eyes, the call was too big for her to answer. Therefore, we are all like Esther sometimes. When we can’t see the way out, we run. Yet, we must learn to choose to surrender and trust the hand of God. For every old position, door, or perception He calls us out of, there is something new that will take its place. 

Esther’s old mindset perished, and so did her fear. Leave what you need to behind because something far greater awaits you. 

#nomoresilence

#nomorefearofposition