For Such A Time As This: Letting Fear Serve

by Marti Fischer

Esther didn’t sign up for this.

She was just a Jewish girl pulled into a Persian palace by her sheer beauty, crowned queen in a world where her identity was a secret and her power was fragile. She had no grand strategy, no training for palace politics—just a heart that beat a little faster every time the king passed by. And then came the moment.

A plot to destroy her people. A silence that could cost lives. And a choice: stay safe, or speak up.

Her mind did the math. Speaking up could mean death. Staying silent meant survival—for her, at least. But then Mordecai’s words came like a spark: “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

That question didn’t come wrapped in certainty. It came with risk, with trembling, with the weight of “what if.” But it also came with purpose.

And something shifted. Esther didn’t stop being afraid. She simply stopped letting fear lead. Letting fear serve instead means listening without bowing. It means fear gets a voice, not a vote.

Letting Fear Serve

Fear isn’t always the enemy. Like pain, it has a purpose. It alerts. It cautions. It tells you something matters. But fear was never meant to drive the car.

Esther felt fear, and Jesus in Gethsemane felt fear. Courage didn’t erase it—it overruled it. It’s taking action despite the fear.

Letting fear serve means we recognize its presence but don’t let it dictate the path. We take the wheel and drive forward in faith.

When the Heart Leads, the Spirit Moves

Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” It doesn’t say, “in my mind.” Why? Because the heart is where truth becomes conviction. Where knowledge becomes movement, it’s where the Spirit of God doesn’t just teach, but transforms.

You may know your calling. You may know the right thing to do. But if the head rules, fear will keep you circling. The only way forward is to let the heart—anchored in the Spirit—take the lead.

You Are Here for a Reason

You don’t need to have it all figured out. God doesn’t need your perfection, just your yes. Fear will always try to take the throne. But remember: the head is a good servant, not a great master.

Letting fear serve is about refusing to give it the final word. Let the Spirit lead. Let the Word settle deep in your heart. Let courage rise in you not because fear disappeared, but because purpose became louder.

And maybe… just maybe…

You are right where you are, for such a time as this.

Personal Journaling — From Fearful Delay to Faithful Action

1. Name the Fear —

Fear hides best in vagueness. It thrives when unnamed.

What exactly am I afraid of? Be brutally honest.
What am I really avoiding—discomfort, judgment, rejection, responsibility?
What story have I been telling myself that keeps me stuck? Is it even true?

Ask: If a friend told me this story, would I believe him/her?

2. Distinguish Between Acute and Chronic Fear

Acute fear is a God-given response to real danger. Chronic fear is the enemy’s tool to keep us spiritually stuck.

When did I face real danger and wisely pull back?
When did I feel fear, but it wasn’t danger — it was doubt, shame, or insecurity—and I retreated or moved forward anyway?
How did I feel after each decision? What did I learn?

Ask: Am I protecting myself—or imprisoning myself?

3. Call Out the Camouflage

Fear doesn’t always sound like fear. Sometimes it sounds like wisdom.

What excuses have I been rehearsing that sound smart—but keep me small?
“I don’t have time.” “It’s not the right season.” “I’m still praying about it.”
Which are real, and which are fear dressed up in strategy?

Ask: What would I have to do if I stopped saying this excuse?

4. Turn Shoulds Into Musts

Breakthroughs happen when the stakes get personal.

When was a time I stopped saying “I should…” and said instead, “I must”?
What did it cost me to stay silent or small before that “I must” moment?
What did I gain by moving forward anyway?

Ask: What in my life right now is crying out to become a “must”?

5. Let Pain Teach You, Not Define You

Pain points to something. Fear wants to freeze you there.

What conversation, action, or step have I avoided because it makes me feel exposed, awkward, or unworthy?
Instead of overthinking, what would happen if I led with my heart that is anchored in who I am in Christ?
What impact could I make if I stopped flinching and started moving?

Ask: What would I say or do today if fear weren’t in the room?

6. Anchor in God’s Presence

The Spirit speaks in stillness. Fear thrives in noise.

When do I feel most aware of God’s presence?
What rhythms, spaces, or practices help me quiet my mind and listen deeply—prayer, journaling, meditation, solitude, nature?
Where have I let noise crowd out the whisper of God?

Ask: What do I need to create or clear to hear Him again?

7. Cultivate a Perspective of Gratitude

Gratitude shifts the atmosphere—internally and externally. You can’t worship the Lord and worry simultaneously, nor can you feel scared and joyful or afraid and peaceful at the same time. A heart full of gratitude wins out over fear every time.

What parts of my life have I taken for granted that actually carry deep grace?
Where have I been letting fear blind me to God’s provision?
What can I thank Him for right now that changes how I see this moment?

Ask: What would change if I started from gratitude, not fear?

8. Redefine Failure

Failure is inevitable, but failure isn’t the enemy—quitting your purpose is. Even rejection has something to teach. Fear of failure will provide insights and can bring you back to your Christ-centered heart.