When Courage Requires Action
Esther – When Courage Requires Action
Scripture Spotlight “When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand.” — Esther 5:2 “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” — Proverbs 25:11 “Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs.” — Ephesians 4:29 “The tongue also is a fire… it corrupts the whole body… With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings… this should not be.” — James 3:6, 9–10
Setting the Scene -We’ve already met Esther. But today, we’re going deeper. Imagine it: the throne room of the Persian empire — a world of opulence and power. Marble floors stretched like rivers of stone, tapestries flowing down tall pillars, guards standing stone-faced at every entrance. A gold scepter in the king’s hand determined life or death. And then, there’s Esther. She enters uninvited. By law, she could be executed for this. But she walks in anyway — heart racing, hands trembling, soul anchored in prayer. And the moment he sees her, something shifts. He welcomes her. He raises the scepter. Her courage is met with favor. 💬 When Words Matter Most Esther doesn’t launch into accusations. She invites him to dinner — not once, but twice. This wasn’t just nerves. It was strategy. It was wisdom. It was restraint. “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” (Proverbs 25:11) In Hebrew, the word for “fitly” is nāw’eh (נָאֶה), meaning beautiful, appropriate, or well-timed. Esther’s words weren’t just brave — they were beautifully placed. She didn’t explode. She didn’t rush. She waited for the moment when truth could do the most good. 🧴 The Toothpaste Devotional When my kids were little, we did family devotionals each week. One night, I gave them each a travel-size tube of toothpaste and told them to squeeze it all out. They giggled and made a mess, of course. Then I handed them toothpicks and said, “Now put it all back in.” They couldn’t. That simple illustration stuck with me. Our words are like that toothpaste — once they’re out, there’s no going back. We can apologize. We can seek forgiveness. But the words still leave a mark.
Learning the Hard Way I’ve hurt people with my words before. I’ve said too much, too fast. I’ve let emotions win. And I’ve prayed — begged God — to teach me how to slow down, how to speak life, and how to bless and not curse, even in frustration. “Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths…” (Ephesians 4:29) It’s become a life verse for me. Because the truth is, I want to be the kind of woman who speaks courage with kindness. Who communicates truth with timing. Who isn’t afraid to say the hard things — but chooses to do it with beauty and boldness.
You Are Not Waiting for a Man to Redeem You In Esther’s day, a woman could be “redeemed” by a man — protected, elevated, rescued. But you don’t need a man to redeem you. You’ve already been redeemed. “Who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14) Your value doesn’t come from who welcomes you into the room — it comes from the One who called you in the first place. You can speak. You can lead. You can walk into the room trembling and still change the future. ✨ Personal Reflection Have you ever met someone who just knows how to say exactly what you’re thinking… but with more grace and power than you could’ve imagined? There are women online who’ve made entire platforms out of speaking truth with polish. It’s a rare gift — and it’s one I long to grow into. I want to be someone who speaks with elegance and kindness — not because I’m trying to impress people, but because I want my words to heal and help, not harm. Esther reminds me: you can be courageous and wise at the same time. You can speak truth without burning bridges. You can pause, wait, pray, and still act boldly.
Reflection Questions Have you ever regretted something you said in a moment of frustration? What did you learn? Who in your life needs a timely word of encouragement or truth right now? What practical steps can you take to slow down your speech and think before you speak? Is there a difficult conversation you need to have soon? How can you prepare for it with prayer and wisdom? What kind of woman do you want to be remembered as — with your words?
