I don't want everyone looking at me. What if I freeze?

Esther didn't feel brave before she spoke — she just decided the moment mattered more than her fear did. Whatever you're being asked to say or do, you may be there for such a time as this too.

The conversation

The child: “Daddy God, I don't want everyone looking at me. What if I freeze?”

God: “You look like someone about to disappear into the wall if you could.”

The child: “I just want someone else to do this instead.”

God: “There was a girl named Esther who felt the exact same way.”

God: “She was asked to speak up for her people, even though it could have cost her everything.”

The child: “What did she do?”

God: “She almost stayed quiet. But someone told her — maybe this is exactly why you're here, right now.”

The child: “So maybe I'm here for a reason too?”

God: “Maybe this moment was never random.”

God: “You don't have to be fearless. You just have to be willing.”

The child: “Okay. I'm willing.”

The child: “Courage isn't not being scared. It's speaking anyway.”

God: “Now you understand what Esther knew.”

The child: “...and that's why I think we should...”

The child: “I did it. My voice actually mattered.”

God: “It always did. You just needed to use it.”

"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?" Esther 4:14, KJV