Esther 1:1 – 2:20
A Royal Banquet, a Quiet Shift
Let’s step into the story for a moment, not as distant readers but as women who are right there in the palace corridors, taking it all in. King Xerxes rules over the largest empire in the world, stretching from India to Cush. His wealth is staggering, his influence unmatched. For 180 days, he hosts a grand celebration to show off the glory of his kingdom. The air smells of fine spices, the floors shine with marble, and gold vessels sparkle in the light.
Then, in the middle of this spectacle, something unexpected happens. Queen Vashti is summoned to appear so the king can display her beauty before a crowd of important men. She refuses. That one choice sets off a chain reaction that costs her the crown.
From a human perspective, this is a royal scandal. From God’s perspective, it is the first move in a much bigger plan. Sometimes God begins His work by allowing shifts that make no sense to us at the time.
And if we are honest, we have all lived through shifts like that. Maybe a position at work suddenly opens up because someone else leaves. Maybe a leadership role at church becomes available because another leader steps down. Maybe you experience a change in your home life when a child leaves for college or a loved one moves away. On the surface, it can look like disruption, but underneath, God may be preparing the way for something you cannot yet see.
Proverbs 21:1 reminds us, “The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he guides it wherever he pleases.” If God can direct the heart of a powerful ruler, He can certainly move the circumstances in our own lives to prepare us for His purposes.
The Longest Season You Don’t See Coming
After Vashti’s removal, the king’s advisors suggest a search for a new queen. This is not a romantic love story or a glamorous competition. It is an empire-wide selection of young women who are brought to the palace, given beauty treatments, and then presented to the king.
Esther is one of them. She is not campaigning for a royal role or dreaming about wearing a crown. She is simply living her life in Susa, being cared for by her cousin Mordecai after the loss of both parents. She has already known grief and change.
This is something we as women can relate to. We have all experienced seasons we did not choose. Maybe you did not plan to step into motherhood when you did. Maybe you did not expect to be a single mom. Maybe you did not expect to start over in your career at 44. Maybe you did not see a ministry opportunity coming, yet it was placed in front of you.
Life can shift without our permission, and sometimes the new season feels like it was handed to us before we were ready. Esther’s life turned in a new direction without warning. Yours may have too.
Quiet Faithfulness in an Unfamiliar Place
Here’s what amazes me. Once Esther was brought into the palace, she did not try to push herself ahead of the others, and she did not hide in fear. Esther 2:9 tells us she “pleased Hegai and won his favor.” How? By showing grace, humility, and wisdom right where she was.
She listened to wise counsel. She respected the process. She treated others with dignity. She did not compromise her values to get ahead. She simply showed up each day and gave her best in the place she had been planted.
And here’s where we lean in for a moment, because this is so relevant for us: faithfulness in the place you didn’t expect to be can be the very thing God uses to position you for what’s next.
Some of us are working in jobs we never thought we would take. Some are caring for loved ones in a season that feels hidden. Some are serving in church roles that stretch us beyond what we thought we could do. And yet, when we live with integrity, kindness, and a heart to serve, God notices. Others notice too.
Colossians 3:23 reminds us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” This is what Esther modeled in the palace.
Favor Isn’t Found – It Finds You
When the Bible talks about “favor,” it’s not describing luck or charm. It’s the supernatural kindness of God opening doors you could not open on your own.
Proverbs 3:3-4 tells us: “Let love and faithfulness never leave you… Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.”
Esther wasn’t hustling for a crown. She was simply being faithful where she was. And that faithfulness positioned her for a moment she didn’t even know was coming.
In our culture, we’re taught to chase opportunities. Network. Self-promote. Make things happen. And yes, there is a place for taking initiative. But biblical favor isn’t about chasing. It is about being ready when it arrives.
“God’s favor is not the result of striving. It’s the reward of surrender.” – Unknown
The Beauty and Frustration of Preparation Seasons
Before Esther could even meet the king, she had to complete a year-long preparation process. Six months with oil of myrrh. Six months with perfumes and cosmetics.
Twelve months for one moment.
If you’ve been in a long preparation season, you know how frustrating it can be. You start wondering: Is this ever going to lead somewhere? Does God even see me here?
But here’s the truth: God isn’t just preparing the opportunity for you. He’s preparing you for the opportunity.
Think about David tending sheep before becoming king (1 Samuel 16). Think about Joseph in prison before standing before Pharaoh (Genesis 41). God never wastes preparation time.
And maybe you’re in a season like that right now. Raising small kids. Caring for aging parents. Working in a job that feels far from your calling. Friend, don’t underestimate what God is building in you. The skills, patience, humility, and resilience you’re developing will be the very tools you need when favor finds you.
When Your Position Becomes Your Platform
When the moment finally came for Esther to stand before the king, Scripture says he was more attracted to her than to any other woman. Out of all the young women in the kingdom, the crown was placed on her head.
This was more than a royal appointment. It was a divine assignment.
Psalm 75:6-7 tells us, “No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt themselves. It is God who judges: He brings one down, He exalts another.” Esther’s elevation was God’s doing, not chance or human design.
For us today, a position can be anything from a leadership role at work, to a new responsibility at church, to the influence we have in our own homes. The position itself is not the goal. The platform it provides for God’s purposes is what matters.
Think about Deborah in Judges 4. She did not seek the role of judge and prophet, yet God placed her there to deliver His people. Or Joseph in Egypt, elevated to second in command so he could save countless lives during famine.
When God positions you, it is never just for your comfort. It is so you can be a voice, a helper, an encourager, or a protector in ways that serve others and honor Him. Your platform might not come with a crown or a title, but it is still holy ground.
It might look like hosting a Bible study in your living room. It might be mentoring a younger woman at work. It might be speaking up in a meeting when truth needs to be told. Your platform is wherever God has placed you to carry out His will.
Relating This to Us – Right Here, Right Now
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Unexpected opportunities can be divine appointments. That promotion you didn’t seek, the speaking invitation that scares you, the mentoring role you were asked to fill - these could be your palace moments.
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Faithfulness matters more than visibility. In our social media world, visibility is often seen as success. But God measures by faithfulness, not followers.
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Preparation seasons are holy ground. Your waiting isn’t wasted. God is doing something in you that will matter when the moment comes.
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Favor is for service, not self. When God opens a door, it’s not just for your blessing - it’s for the blessing of others.
Reflection Questions
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What is one “small thing” I can be faithful in this week, even if no one notices?
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Have I been despising a season of preparation instead of embracing it?
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Am I willing to use the opportunities God gives me for the benefit of others, not just myself?
Closing Prayer
Lord,
Thank You for the reminder that You see me, even in the hidden seasons. Help me to be faithful in the small and the unseen, to trust that You are preparing me for the opportunities You have ordained. Teach me to rest in Your favor rather than chase after the world’s approval. And when my moment comes, give me the courage to use my position for Your purposes. May my life be a living testimony of Your faithfulness.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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