Risk, for God's Glory

Sometimes the hardest thing to do is the right thing—and the clock is ticking.

We’ve all had moments when we knew we should speak up, step in, or take action, but fear held us back. What if it costs too much? What if others misunderstand? What if we fail? Esther faced that exact tension. Her story in Esther 7 and 8 is a vivid reminder that opportunities to do the right thing don’t last forever. Time was running out, and God was calling her to act.

The moment came when the king asked Esther what she wanted. She could have asked for personal safety, wealth, or comfort—but instead, she asked for her life and the lives of her people. Her words in Esther 7:3 are simple but weighty: “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases the king, spare my life; this is my request. And spare my people; this is my desire.” She risked her position, her privilege, and her safety to honor God and protect others.

Haman, the king’s highest official, had plotted to destroy all the Jews. When Esther revealed his plan, the king saw him as a traitor. Ironically, Haman was executed on the very gallows he had built for Mordecai, Esther’s cousin. It was a powerful demonstration of Proverbs 29:23: “A person’s pride will humble him, but a humble spirit will gain honor.” Esther’s humility and courage placed her in God’s hands, while Haman’s pride led to his downfall.

But even with Haman gone, the danger wasn’t over. In the Persian empire, the king’s decrees could not be revoked—not even by the king himself. The order to annihilate the Jews still stood. Esther didn’t stop at saving herself; she pleaded again for her people, falling at the king’s feet and begging for their protection. She understood that influence is not about wielding power for personal gain—it’s about serving others for God’s purposes.

The king responded by granting Mordecai authority to write a new decree. This counter-order allowed the Jews to defend themselves against their enemies. The day meant for their destruction became a day of victory. What seemed irreversible was overturned by God’s providence and the courage of His people.

This remarkable deliverance became the foundation for the Feast of Purim. The name “Purim” comes from the word pur—meaning “lot”—because Haman had cast lots to determine the day of their destruction (Esther 9:24–26). What had been intended as a date of doom became an annual festival of rejoicing. Purim is a vibrant, joyful celebration marked by reading the book of Esther aloud, giving gifts of food to friends, offering to the poor, and sharing a festive meal. It is a living reminder that God’s providence can turn the darkest moments into opportunities for His glory and His people’s good.

For Esther’s generation, Purim was a declaration that the God of Israel had not abandoned them in exile. For every generation since, it’s a testimony that God still works through the courage of His people to bring deliverance in ways no one could have imagined. What began with a trembling young queen taking a risk ended in a story still celebrated thousands of years later.

Esther’s story forces us to ask hard questions: Where has God placed us to speak up? Who needs us to take a risk on their behalf? Are we living for God’s glory or our own? Like Esther, we may be given influence, but the test is how we use it—whether for self-preservation or for the good of others and the honor of God.

It’s easy to think we’ll always have more time—to reconcile with someone, to share our faith, to take a stand. But Esther reminds us that the moment may be now. Courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s choosing to act for God’s glory in spite of fear. The risk is real, but so is the reward of seeing God move through our obedience.

This week, consider where God is calling you to step forward. Maybe it’s a conversation you’ve been avoiding, a public stand you’ve been reluctant to take, or a service you’ve been hesitating to offer. Like Esther, you may be in your position “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). God calls His people to seek His glory above our own—and He works powerfully through those willing to trust Him in the risk.

We’d love to continue exploring this powerful truth with you this Sunday at Union Avenue Baptist Church, 2181 Union Avenue, at 10:45 am, or online at unionavenue.org. Come join us as we discover together how God works through ordinary people who are willing to take extraordinary risks for His glory.