Esther’s story can be especially encouraging and instructive to young women as a role model for their own lives. While there are faith-testing elements of her story, she is an example of how to respond in trials, how God uses a person (young or older) who is obedient to Him and who looks to Him in faith.

No matter what a person is going through, know that God certainly does work in your life as a teen or preteen.

Background

Esther’s story takes place near the end of the events described in the Old Testament. Both the kingdoms of Israel and Judah had fallen and been taken into captivity in Assyria and Babylon, respectively. Esther was born into a group of Jews of the tribe of Benjamin who had been brought as captives to the ancient land of Persia years before. Her parents died when she was a child, and her cousin, Mordecai, cared for her as if she were his daughter. She respected him as an adopted father, honoring him and obeying him.

Reality check: Esther’s life had some very difficult situations. She was an orphan, living as a captive in an enemy land, and then taken from her cousin’s care to essentially become part of a king’s harem. These are not things that we generally like to think about happening, but they do happen. The key is not how difficult our situations may be, but how we respond to the challenges we’re faced with. When life didn’t turn out as she had hoped, what did Esther choose to believe about herself, her people and her God? Read on to find out.

Esther learned from her adopted father Mordecai the customs of their people. She observed the dietary and clothing laws and developed lady-like, demure behavior. She became a beautiful young woman.

Esther becomes queen

The book of Esther introduces us to a great king of Persia known as Ahasuerus or Xerxes (pronounced “zerk-zeez”). He was very strict and demanded obedience to his commands. When his Queen Vashti refused to appear at a feast where he wanted to display her beauty, he took her crown. He ordered that beautiful ladies be brought to the castle and judged for the Queen’s crown. Esther was one of them.

Mordecai warned her not to tell she was a Jew. She obeyed, while she and the other young women went through 12 months of grooming before being presented to the king. She became a favorite of Hagai, the chief custodian of the young women. He advised her in cosmetic preparations, and she was given seven maidservants and special living quarters. When Esther was presented to the king, he favored her above all the other women. The king chose Esther to be queen and gave a big banquet in celebration.

Mordecai’s courage

It was Mordecai’s habit to sit inside the gate of the courtyard. In doing so, he overheard a plot against the king by two of the king’s men. He told Esther, and she told the king, naming Mordecai as the source. The king had the conniving men hanged and made Haman (a high official, in effect the prime minister of the king) his main helper, ruling that everyone bow to him.

Subsequently, when Mordecai refused to bow to him, Haman became angry. Upon learning he was a Jew, convinced the king that all Jews in the land should die. The king ruled that it should happen at the end of 12 months across the entire realm. Orders written by Haman were sent out by horseback.

For such a time as this

When Mordecai heard of this terrible news, he and the local Jews put on sackcloth and ashes and fasted. Esther sent a servant to learn the whole story. She was told and urged to go to the king. She replied that if she went to him without being called, she could die, unless the king held out his scepter to spare her. Esther 4:13-14 states: “And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: ‘Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. 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?’”

Reality check: Esther was willing to listen to sound advice, take personal responsibility and do her part—in faith. She took note of Mordecai’s faith that God would send deliverance for the Jews from somewhere. And he felt strongly that Esther was to be part of that—if she was willing to act. Her thinking matured rapidly. In a moment of incredible pressure, she made Mordecai’s faith her own faith in the God who delivers, as we see in Esther 4:15-16: “Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: ‘Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!’”

Esther’s courageous decision

On the third day, Esther put on her royal robes and went to stand in front of the king. He was glad to see her, held out his scepter and asked what she wished. She said she wanted the king and Haman to come to a banquet she had prepared.

Reality check: Imagine fasting for three days without food or water and walking into a potential death sentence. She had little strength left, but she had faith. Without God’s intervention, her life could end within minutes. But because she was walking in faith, she knew that her life was in God’s hands, not the king’s.

The king and Haman came to the banquet. Again, the king asked Esther what she wanted. She said she would like the two to come back the next day for another banquet. They both agreed, and Haman went out joyfully. Then began a whirlwind of events.

Miraculous turn of events

Haman had built gallows for hanging Mordecai and the Jews. Meanwhile, the king learned that Mordecai had not been rewarded for uncovering the plot against the king. (Esther 6:1-4). Haman came wanting to ask the king to hang Mordecai. Instead, the king asked what should be done to honor a man? Thinking it would be himself, Haman described a fancy event (Esther 6:5-9).

The king said, “Do so for Mordecai” (Esther 6:10). Haman did so and went home. Later, the king’s men came to bring Haman to the banquet. During the banquet, Esther revealed the plot to have all the Jews killed, including her. The king then had Haman hanged on those gallows (Esther 7:1-19).

Esther asked that letters be sent out allowing Jews everywhere to band together to protect themselves. The king ordered Mordecai to write them and use his signet ring to make it official. As a result, groups of Jews resisted, killing many. Esther and Mordecai named the day Purim. Mordecai became the king’s main advisor and became very powerful. God blessed Esther for her great faithfulness and her love for her people. She put her life on the line for them.

Reality check: When all looks bleak and we are weak, never lose hope in God’s power and mercy to turn events and people around. Proverbs 21:2 states, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.”

Life is by nature challenging, and God allows us to be tested so that we can grow. But no matter how big or small the challenges, like Esther you also can walk toward, not run from, life’s difficulties by believing in God and seeking His will for your life. Trust in Him to work out the best outcomes and He will—for He is your guide and your deliverer, just like He was for Esther.