This is Mr. Funky Teacher with BeAFunkyTeacher.com. I’m coming to you with another Be a Funky Teacher podcast. Welcome back to Sunday School for Teachers. This is our weekly space to slow down, breathe, and reconnect our teacher hearts with the God who calls us, equips us, and walks with us into our classrooms. Like I always say, I’m not a preacher. I’m just a teacher who’s as flawed and messy as they come, trying to let God work through me. Faith isn’t something you only talk about on Sundays. It’s something you live out Monday through Friday, right there in your classroom with your students. Sunday School for Rogers is a place where Scripture meets the classroom, where Bible stories meet real teacher moments, and where faith becomes practical, grounding, and encouraging for the week ahead. Whether you teach in a public school or a private school, this time is about strengthening your spirit and remembering that you never walk into your classroom alone. God is already there, working in ways you can’t always see. Before we dive in, I want to share three things I’m thankful for. First, I’m thankful for stocking caps. Cold weather, winter mornings, recess duty. Sometimes it’s the simple things that remind us life can still feel warm and comfortable. Second, I’m thankful for cool classroom posters. The ones that spark conversations, inspire kids, and make classrooms feel like places where learning actually lives. Third, I’m thankful for football, especially the friendly rivalry in my family. I’m a Denver Broncos fan. My dad is a Green Bay Packers fan. My brother and I team up against him, but he’s been loyal his whole life. Those moments of playful banter are something I truly treasure. Today’s episode is called Esther: For Such A Time As This. Our focus comes from Esther chapter 4, verse 14, where Mordecai says to Esther, “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this.” The book of Esther is unique. God’s name is never mentioned directly, yet His presence is everywhere. Esther was a young Jewish woman living in exile who became queen of Persia. She didn’t seek power or position. She simply found herself placed in a moment she never expected. At the same time, Haman devised a plan to destroy the Jewish people. The danger was real. Mordecai urged Esther to speak to the king, even though approaching him without being summoned could mean death. Esther hesitated. She was afraid, and understandably so. Mordecai reminded her that deliverance would come, but her position was not accidental. Esther asked for prayer, fasted, and sought God. Then she made one of the bravest decisions in Scripture: “If I perish, I perish.” She stepped into risk, trusted God, and used her voice. Through her courage, God brought deliverance. Teachers live in moments like Esther’s more than we realize. Moments where speaking up feels risky and staying silent feels easier. Moments of advocating for a student, naming inequity, protecting a child, or standing firm in truth. Esther reminds us that courage doesn’t mean the absence of fear. It means choosing obedience in spite of fear. You might be the only adult who notices. You might be the one placed in that hallway, that classroom, that moment for such a time as this. God doesn’t always call us to be loud, but sometimes He calls us to be brave. This week, listen for the nudge to speak up. Advocate when it matters. Use your voice for students who don’t yet have one. Choose courage over comfort. Pray before you speak, and trust God with the outcome. Esther didn’t know how the story would end. She just knew silence wasn’t an option. Teachers, your presence, your position, and your voice are not random. You are exactly where you are meant to be, for such a time as this. Lord, thank you for the courage of Esther. Give us wisdom to know when to speak and courage to do it with love. Help us trust that you have placed us where we are for a reason. Use our voices, our presence, and our faith to uplift and guide the students entrusted to us. Amen. Thank you for being here with me. Remember to inspire greatness in young people. And don’t forget to be a funky teacher. Bye now.