“Esther replied, ‘This is my request and deepest wish. If I have found favor with the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my request and do what I ask, please come with Haman tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for you.’” (Esther 5:7–8, NLT)

When I was in high school, the church my family attended did not have a youth group. So I went to the same youth group as some of my friends from school. This ministry did some exciting “out of the box” events like a 250 mile bike trip from Santa Maria, CA to Disneyland called “On the Road to Narnia.” I will never forget a message by one of the youth pastors there. He kept repeating the line, “Risk for success!” It was really about stepping out in faith, but for a timid teenager it encouraged me in everything from asking a girl out on a date to starting a church.

Esther risked her life when she approached the king in his inner court without being invited. But it was a success when he extended his gold scepter to her and said, “What do you want, Queen Esther? What is your request? I will give it to you, even if it is half the kingdom!”

Likewise, we must remember that when we are in Christ, we have been accepted in the Beloved. We can approach the throne of grace with confidence. God extends to us His gold scepter and grants us mercy and grace to help in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

Esther requested that the king and Haman come to a banquet that she had prepared. The two men attended, and while they were drinking wine the king said to Esther, “What is your request?” Esther said that she would like the king and Haman to come to another banquet the next day. This built anticipation in the heart of the king, but it also gave space for God to work behind the scenes. As Haman went home, Mordecai refused to stand or tremble before him. This made Haman so angry that he built a 75 foot pole on which he planned to impale Mordecai! Then that night the king couldn’t sleep, so he had his historical records read to him. Amazingly, they read the account of Mordecai saving the king from an assassination attempt. If Esther had been in a hurry to expose Haman’s plot against her people, then these things would not have happened. But because Esther was patient, God worked the circumstances in her favor.

We do not know the workings of the LORD. But we do know His will and character from His Word.

“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (Deuteronomy 29:29, NKJV)

Do not be afraid to risk for success. Do not be afraid to approach the throne of grace and ask for all that you need. Then wait on the LORD to act. He is able to do far more than you can imagine!