Esther 4:14
For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
Mordecai's appeal was addressed to Esther, a Jewess who feared God and had been made queen of the Medo-Persian kingdom under King Xerxes, at the moment when the Jews lay under a decree of destruction in extremity with no hope remaining and no other power seeming able to save them. Her position as queen was providentially suited to that crisis, and may have been given to her precisely so that she could act for her people then, which is the meaning of the question whether she had come to the kingdom for such a time as this. If she altogether held her peace at that time, enlargement and deliverance would still arise to the Jews from another place, but she and her father's house would be destroyed.
The call was to prompt, earnest, quick action to risk approaching the king as intercessor for her people. Both she and Mordecai knew that feeble human efforts would be unavailing unless God worked mightily in their behalf, so Esther first took time for communion with God as the source of strength who holds the heart of every earthly ruler to turn it as rivers of water. With the women with her she met the emergency through fasting, prayer, and prompt action. Through that course God brought a decisive deliverance to the Jewish people, using her to save many lives.
The deliverance of the Jews would not depend on Esther, for God can carry forward His work without the help of those who would dishonor or pervert it, and His purpose will not fail if people refuse to act. That God can bring deliverance through others does not remove a person's duty to take part in the work entrusted to them. Discouragement or obstacles should not keep a person from bearing testimony and serving when the opportunity comes, and those who refuse may lose the opportunity and face serious consequences.
A person may be placed in a position of influence at a particular time to serve God's purpose, so a particular moment may be a God-given opportunity to respond to His call by using abilities and resources in service when the need arises. The question to Esther applies to households, schools, parents, teachers, and children who have received the gospel and may have been given their opportunities to help answer the world's need to know God and Christ. Mordecai's words apply to young people who may have been placed in their circumstances for urgent work for God, so they should build solid characters to be ready to serve, using their strength, time, and talents to glorify God and help others. Coming to the kingdom for such a time as this applies to the men and youth of today in an age with earnest work to be done, so parents should educate their children to share in it and young men should be gaining solidity of character to be fitted for usefulness, as Daniel and Joseph were youth of firm principle whom God could use to carry out His purposes.