This is the first post of a series of four from the book of Esther.

“And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this.”  Esther 4:14

These are the words of Mordecai, the cousin of the beautiful Queen Esther, who raised her, advised her, and worried about her as any loving parent would.

Mordecai, a Jew, living in Persia, serving at the king’s gate, and unwilling to bow down before the evil Haman, heard of the plot devised by Haman to destroy all the Jews. Previously, Mordecai had concealed his identity and therefore, his faith, and he encouraged Esther to do the same. But, with the threat of the destruction of the Jews, he could not conceal his faith any longer. His eyes were opened to the unique opportunity of his cousin, Esther, that God just might have placed her in her royal position for God to use her for such a time as this.

Mordecai saw something unique in Esther and he encouraged her. The prefix en of the word encourage means to “put in, to make.” Mordecai put courage into Esther. He made her courageous with his words.

Listen to how she responded:

“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

Because of Mordecai’s powerful words, Esther courageously lived out her call. God used her to save His people and ultimately preserve the family line from which our Savior would come. Little did Mordecai know the impact of his encouragement!

As women in ministry, we have the power to put courage into women, to point out their unique opportunities and inspire them to courageously live out their call.

I love Mordecai’s two little words: “Who knows…”

Who knows but that you live across the street of a neighbor with cancer…
Who knows but that you teach in a particular school with particular children…
Who knows but that you have a beautiful voice, a love for cooking, a heart for missions…
Who knows but that you have a passion for unborn babies, trafficked women, broken marriages, recovering addicts…

How can you be a Mordecai to someone who God may want to use for such a time as this?