Once upon a time, a beautiful woman was chosen by a Persian king to be his new Queen, after his former queen had displeased him. She carried a secret racial identity, which she chose to keep secret from the King.

After becoming Queen, her cousin discovered a plot to kill their entire race on the day of an upcoming holiday.

The new queen was devastated by the news but felt helpless to do anything about it.

After all, she hadn’t been summoned by the King for some time, and believed she was no longer in his favor. And it was law that if any person approached the King without being summoned, they would be put to death. The only exception to this law was when the King extended his golden scepter to that person.

The Queen’s cousin appealed to her, on behalf of their people, asking “who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

What did the Queen do?

She didn’t really have many options, living in a time where women’s rights didn’t exist.

And she knew the consequences of displeasing the King, after having seen the former queen permanently banished.

The Queen summoned all her courage and resources to handle this crisis. She approached the King and invited him to a dinner party, saying she had a request to make. Before she shared her request, she invited him to a second dinner party. He was both charmed and intrigued. During her second party, she revealed the plot to kill her people, and that she herself was a Jew.

The King extended the golden scepter to his Queen, and she knew she had both his pardon and favor. She also knew her people were protected. And the head of state, the instigator of the plot to destroy her people was executed, along with his family.

Some of you may recognise this as the story of Esther, as recorded in the Bible.

What can we learn from this story?

I’m sure Esther didn’t expect that in becoming Queen she would be placed in a situation where she would need to be the superhero for her people.

She was born in a time where women were compliant, obedient, and loyal. If women in Esther’s time were blatant out-and-out heroes, they were eradicated.

You might say she had it good; she was the Queen! But there wasn’t equality in the palace where Esther lived. For crying out loud, she couldn’t even approach the King without fearing losing her life!

Four ordinary but heroic actions taken by Esther in her story  

When you are a superhero, you don’t have to be loud, or the center of attention. Can you imagine what would’ve happened if Esther had done that?! She couldn’t risk that. She had a one-off opportunity to plead her case before the King. I imagine she spent days strategically planning how she would go about her mission.

Here are four actions from Esther’s story that allowed her to become a superhero for her people. These are actions we can also apply in our day-to-day lives as we strive to be superheroes.

1. She asked for support and back up

Esther saw the situation for what it was and asked for the support of the Jewish people. Their lives were on the line! So, what did they do? They did what they culturally believed would help them the most; they appealed to their God for divine intervention for three days and three nights through prayer and fasting.

2. She had a time limit, but used her time wisely

Even though the death date of her people was looming, Esther took her time to have not one, but two dinner parties. As Queen, she knew the King was a party animal, and capitalized on his love of socializing. Smart woman!

3. She worked with what she knew

Esther was clearly socially and politically savvy. She had to apply what she knew about her world intelligently in order to save her people.

In her role as Queen, she would’ve been a master at event planning. She knew her husband’s favorite foods and wine, and I imagine she planned her two crucial dinner parties to perfection.

I also picture her deliberately choosing the clothing, jewelry, and perfume for her parties that the King loved. As a woman of her time, she knew how to please her man and I’m sure she used that to full advantage.

4. She was realistic about her strengths and limitations

Esther was aware of what she could and couldn’t do within the social constraints at the time. She had an influence over the King and knew how to use it.

She also knew there were lines she couldn’t cross. She couldn’t stomp into the King’s presence and demand what she wanted. She couldn’t fall into an emotional heap either; too much was depending on her. Like the very best James Bond movies, every move she made had to be strategically planned and premeditated.

Where in your life can you step up and be a superhero?

Are you aware of ways you can be a superhero in your life? Are there opportunities you’ve become aware of that you’re holding back from?

Have the last few years brought to your attention deeply-longed-for dreams and goals you secretly wish you could accomplish?

Is it possible that being a superhero for you is about fully living your life? And being an inspiring role model for your children so they follow their dreams as well?

If you answer ‘yes’ to any of these questions, then learn from the story of Esther. Take the risks you need to and step up and be the superhero for yourself and your loved ones.