Despite Fear, Do Right

Despite Fear, Do Right

For such a time as this. – Esther 4:14

Esther 3:8-13

Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from those of all other people, and they do not observe the king’s laws, so it is not in the king’s interest to let them remain.”

“If it is pleasing to the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed.”

Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, women and children,

Esther 4:11-15

All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that for any man or woman who comes to the king to the inner court who is not summoned, he has but one law, that he be put to death, unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter so that he may live. And I have not been summoned to come to the king for these thirty days.

They related Esther’s words to Mordecai. Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews.

“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”

Costly Courage in Times of Moral Crisis

Throughout history, many individuals have risen above fear in moments of profound moral urgency. They risked their own safety, their families, and even their lives to save Jewish people targeted for extermination. Unlike Queen Esther, many of these rescuers were not Jewish themselves. Regardless of their background or nationality, they chose to protect the vulnerable from those seeking to destroy them. Notable figures like Oskar Schindler, Corrie ten Boom, and the Albanian people during WWII exemplify this kind of courageous sacrifice.

A Lasting Witness

At Yad Vashem, Israel’s official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust, the Garden of the Righteous Among the Nations commemorates the men and women who risked their lives to rescue Jewish people from persecution and death. This solemn place of remembrance honors those who, in a time of widespread fear, hatred, and moral collapse, chose compassion over self-preservation and courage over silence.

Their legacy reminds us that even in history’s darkest moments, ordinary people can display extraordinary bravery by refusing to stand aside in the face of injustice.

For Such a Time as This

Esther also faced a choice. She might have assumed that concealing her Jewish identity would spare her from King Ahasuerus’s decree against the Jewish people in Persia, but Mordecai made clear that such a hope was vain.

Though death loomed and the outcome remained uncertain, Esther chose to risk everything. She came to recognize that the Father had placed her in the palace for that very moment. Although the book of Esther never explicitly mentions God by name, His presence is evident throughout as He works quietly behind the scenes to accomplish His will.

When a child of the King embraces this truth, fear starts to diminish. They see life as safe in the Father’s care until His plan is accomplished. Esther attained this conviction and was ready to risk her life to save her people. Her example continues to serve as a powerful reminder of courage, surrender, and determination.

In Esther 4:16, she solemnly declared, “If I perish, I perish.”

The Sin of Refusing to Do What Is Right

There is, however, another layer to this moment. Once we are persuaded of what is right, we are not free to ignore it without guilt. Moral clarity brings moral responsibility.

James 4:17: “Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.”

Esther’s bravery was certainly admirable; it was necessary. She knew that following the Father’s guidance sometimes demands bold steps instead of cautious hesitation.

REFLECT & PRAY

It is always right to do what is right. The Father places each child of the King at a precise moment in history to accomplish His will on earth. For some, their calling becomes apparent during decisive moments, truly “for such a time as this.”

Father, help me remain sensitive to Your guidance so that I may know when to act and how to act. Strengthen me to obey You wholeheartedly, regardless of the cost.

INSIGHT

Fear and the Presence of God

Fear is a natural human emotion. At times, it serves a practical purpose, supplying the surge of energy needed either to confront danger or to escape it.

Stanley observes, “When something threatens our lives, we naturally feel great fear. There is no sin in this. It’s how we respond to that fear – with a courageous trust in God or a spineless desire for self-preservation – that makes the difference.”  

Fear is a sense of dread or foreboding in response to impending trouble, loss, or sorrow. At times, it arises from real danger and genuine threats. At other times, it is shaped only by imagined possibilities that have no objective basis. Even when fear is irrational, it remains deeply real to the one who experiences it.

Yet whether fear is rational or irrational, dread need not rule the heart. It can be replaced by faith, confidence, and a reverent fear of the Father, our holy and awe-inspiring God.

The Origin of Fear

Fear first emerges in the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve chose to disobey the Father, they lost their innocence, allowing sin to enter humanity. As a result, shame, concealment, and fear followed.

Genesis 3:7-10:

“At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees.

Then the LORD God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’

He replied, ‘I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.’”

Fear often exerts a paralyzing effect, particularly when it is intensified by guilt and the awareness of unrighteousness within. In such moments, fear does not merely unsettle the emotions; it can weaken resolve, cloud judgment, and leave a person inwardly immobilized. When the conscience is burdened, fear often grows stronger, feeding hesitation, self-protection, and spiritual unrest.

Solomon warns in Proverbs 28:1: “The wicked flees when there is no one pursuing, but the righteous is as confident as a lion.”

Freedom from Fear in Christ

Every child of the King has a Redeemer who came to break the grip of fear. Through His sinless life, atoning death, and victorious resurrection, the Lord Jesus Christ has secured freedom for His people. Now exalted at the right hand of the Father, He continually intercedes for those who belong to Him.

1 John 4:18: “There is no fear in love, because perfect love expels all fear… the one who fears is not perfected in love.”

Christ provides more than comfort to those burdened by fear. He offers genuine liberation. In His embrace, the enduring chains of anxiety are broken. The shackles that once held hearts captive are crushed. Through faith, believers embark on a journey of freedom, stepping forward with newfound confidence. This confidence is grounded in the assurance of His unchanging presence and the strength He provides.

Living in the Present with Christ

Fear frequently attaches itself to the future, as the mind envisions upcoming days, months, or years filled with difficulty, failure, or loss. However, these mental images are incomplete because they omit the most vital truth: the presence of Christ.

Jesus Calling November 9

“Sit quietly with Me, letting all your fears and worries bubble up to the surface of your consciousness. There, in the Light of My Presence, the bubbles pop and disappear. However, some fears surface over and over again, especially fear of the future. You tend to mentally project yourself into the next day, week, month, year, decade, and visualize yourself coping badly in those times. What you are seeing is a false image, because it doesn’t include Me. Those gloomy times that you imagine will not come to pass since My Presence will be with you at all times.

When a future-oriented worry assails you, capture it and disarm it by suffusing the Light of My Presence into that mental image. Say to yourself, ‘Jesus will be with me then and there. With His help, I can cope!’ Then, come home to the present moment, where you can enjoy Peace in My Presence.”

As Jesus Calling beautifully expresses, many of our fears dissolve when brought into the light of His presence. The future that troubles us is a false image if it does not include Him. Whatever lies ahead, He will already be there.

When future-oriented anxiety rises, it must be brought under the truth of His nearness. The believer can answer fear with confidence: Jesus will be with me then and there. With His help, I can endure. In this way, the heart is drawn back from imagined trouble into the peace of the present moment, where His presence is known, and His peace is enjoyed.

Freedom from Fear

Fear entered into our lives through sin, but true freedom from fear is found in Christ. A child of the King conquers fear through faith and intentionally living in the awareness of the Lord Jesus’ presence, love, and intercession. We never walk alone. The Father’s plans will always come to pass. The real question is whether we will trust Him enough to take our place in it.

As Stanley observed, “God is never bound by our faithlessness or cowardice. He desires to use us to bless His people, but if we fail to trust Him, He will use someone else. But He will always accomplish His will.”

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© Dr. H 2026