Our story left off with King Xerxes being tempted by money and signing a law to kill the Jews. Esther is a Jew, but he doesn't know.

Mordecai hears of the King's law and he is very upset. He starts crying and making loud noises by the castle gates. Esther hadn't heard of the law, but she hears Mordecai and sends a servant to see what's wrong and to tell him to be quiet. He tells the servent to tell Esther about the law and that she must go to the King and beg for him to save the Jews.

When Esther is told about this law, she is very upset, but she is afraid. You are only allowed to go to the King if he sends for you and hands you his scepter. If she goes to the King and he doesn't want to talk to her and doesn't hand her his scepter, he can have her killed just for asking. 

Esther sends word to Mordecai to pray and fast for her and for all their friends to do the same. Then, she will go to the King.

After 3 days of fasting, Esther wears her prettiest dress and goes to the King. She was so nervous, but the King asks her to come in! When he asked her what she wanted, she invited the King and Haman to a feast. During the feast, the King asked what she wanted, but she invited him and Haman to another feast the next day, and then she will tell him her request. 

It was scary to approach King Xerxes, but God our King always wants to us to come to him.

Let's compare King Xerxes to God our King: