This collector mug features artwork from my original painting Pursuit of Happiness, first created as part of my 10K Collection, along with the words from Esther 4:14, “For such a time as this.” The original painting now lives at Brewerytown Pilates in Philadelphia, where it was collected and now has its home. Prints of this artwork are also available for those who would like the full piece in their own space.
Esther’s story is about a young woman who had to make a hard and brave choice. She could have stayed quiet and stayed safe, but she chose to speak up to save her people. She was afraid, but she trusted God and stepped forward anyway. Her story reminds us that being brave doesn’t mean you are not scared. It means you do what is right even when you are afraid or unsure of the outcome.
What we keep in front of us every day matters. The words we see have a way of settling into our thoughts and shaping how we move. I created this mug to be a quiet reminder to walk in courage, trust God’s timing, and speak up when it matters.
Designed by Philadelphia artist Andromeda Cook.
Part of the Bible Stories in a Cup collection.
• Ceramic
• 11 oz mug dimensions: 3.79″ (9.6 cm) in height, 3.25″ (8.3 cm) in diameter
• 15 oz mug dimensions: 4.69″ (11.9 cm) in height, 3.35″ (8.5 cm) in diameter
• Lead and BPA free material
• Colored rim, inside, and handle
• Dishwasher and microwave safe
READ THE FULL STORY BELOW……
Esther’s “If I Perish” Moment 🙏🏾👑💫💕📖💞
Some stories remind us why courage matters. This is one of them… There once was a young girl named Hadassah but most people knew her by her Persian name: Esther.
Esther was Jewish, living in a Kingdom that didn’t honor her people. She was an orphan, raised by her older cousin Mordecai, who taught her to be wise, respectful, and faithful. She wasn’t rich. She wasn’t royal. But she had something no one could see: a calling that would one day change history.
At that time, the King of Persia had just removed his Queen and sent out a royal decree: he wanted to find a new one. So hundreds of young women were gathered and taken to the palace; including Esther.
She didn’t ask to be there. She didn’t chase the crown. But sometimes God places you in rooms you never expected… because purpose is waiting on the other side.
For a whole year, the women were prepared with beauty treatments, oils, and rituals before they could even see the King. But when Esther’s moment came? She didn’t try to be flashy. She didn’t demand anything extra. She listened to wisdom. She stayed true to herself. And when the King saw her, he chose her; Esther became Queen 👸🏾
But this wasn’t a fairytale… it was an assignment.
Not long after, a powerful man named Haman rose up in the Kingdom. He hated the Jews and secretly convinced the King to sign a law to have all of them killed. The date was set. The attack was coming. And no one; not even the queen was safe. Esther could’ve hidden. She could’ve kept her identity secret. She could’ve protected herself and stayed silent.
But Mordecai sent her a message that changed everything: “If you stay silent, help may come from somewhere else… but you and your family will perish. And who knows… maybe you were made Queen for such a time as this.”
That was the moment.
Esther fasted for three days.
She told her people to do the same.
And then she did something no one was allowed to do… She walked into the King’s court without being summoned.
If he didn’t accept her, she could be killed on the spot. But Esther said something that would echo through generations: “If I perish, I perish.” But she didn’t perish. She prevailed. The King extended his golden scepter.
Esther invited him and Haman to a banquet. And with wisdom, patience, and timing, she revealed the truth… That Haman’s plan was to destroy her people. The King was shocked. Haman was exposed. And the very trap Haman set for others; he fell into himself. Esther saved her people. Not because she had the loudest voice. But because she had the right heart, the right timing, and the courage to speak up.
So if you’re reading this… know this:
💫 You don’t have to come from perfection to be called.
💫 You don’t have to have it all together to be Chosen.
💫 And sometimes, the very thing you’re afraid to speak up about… is the exact reason you were born.
“You were made for such a time as this.” ~Mordecai
Bible Verse
Esther 4:14 “For such a time as this.”
Affirmation: “I was placed where I am for a reason.
I will not shrink back from what I am called to do.
I move forward with courage, even when I feel afraid.”
