
Holding Up The Hands of Those Who Are Tired
Holding Up The Hands of Those Who Are Tired
This post wasn’t what I had planned for today, but yesterday was a rough day forย my local Moms in the Making group. Three people received bad news, and it left me devastated. I am feeling a little helpless, for sure. Feeling like I wish it was me, not my sweet friends. Feeling frustrated and confused. And to be honest, I am just left feeling sad for my friends.
The Lord reminded me of Exodus 17:11-13 which says, “ย As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning,ย but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.ย When Mosesโ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands upโone on one side, one on the otherโso that his hands remained steady till sunset.ย So Joshua overcame the Amalekiteย army with the sword.”
The phrase “held up his hands” in this verse refers to a posture of prayer, meaning, when Moses prayed, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he stopped praying, the Israelites were losing. This verse shows the importance of prayer, because the victory of the battle was dependent on Moses praying. But what happened whenย Moses got tired? Aaron and Hur came along to help. Moses wasn’t going to win the battle alone, but with his friends help, he could “remain steady till sunset.” And because of their help? Israel was victorious.
The outcome would have looked much different had Moses been on his own. But when his friends stepped in to help pray? He was able to defeat the armies. So what about you? How many times have you grown weary? Exhausted? Been too tired of holding up your own hands? You aren’t meant to go through life and fight your battles alone which is why it is not only important to surround yourself with Christians, butย share your story too. The ups and the downs. The good and the bad. The trials and the blessings. All of it. The reason? Because the only way people can hold up your hands is if you invite them in to be a part of your journey. ย ย
I realize being in community willย look different for everyone. It should of course include being involved in a church. Maybe a small group. Maybe a group of tight-knit believers. Whatever it looks like, find people who will hold your hands up, when you can do so no longer. I always remind myself that if Jesus walked with 12 disciples, we should too.
I hope I can be a friend to others like Aaron and Hur were to Moses. Even though, to be honest, I feel like if I relate to anyone, it’s Moses. The very reason I am where I am today, full of faith and expectancy, is because I have had so many friends come around me to hold up my hands. Sadly, some friends haven’t lasted as the battle I have beenย facing has been to fierce, but I am so thankful for the ones who have clung by my side through all the ups and downs. The ones who pray for me, when I have no words left. The ones who encourage me, when I feel discouraged. The ones who let me know they are believing for me, when I have no faith. The ones who allow me to cry, without me saying a word.
I have needed a lot of prayer and a lot of encouraging during my five year wait. I only hope that today and the weeks to come I can be more like Aaron and Hur, extending the love and prayers instead of receiving them.ย I hope I can hold the hands of my friends up. I hope I can lend a listening ear. And even though I can’t take away their pain, I know that the only reason Moses gained victory, was because his friends prayed, and I know the most important thing I can do as a friend, just like Aaron and Hur, is pray.ย I assume the Israelites victory was just as exciting to Aaron and Hur as it was to Moses and when you pray, believe and hold up the hands of your friends then soon enough you will be celebrating your friends victory too. Their win is also your winย and your win will be their win!
So whose hands can you hold up today? Who is in the middle of a battle and is fighting it alone? Or maybe today, you see yourself as Moses and you need your hands held up high. Ask for help when you need it. Allow others in on your story. And know that just like with this passage in Exodus, prayer changes everything. It is the difference of winning or losing the battle. So if today, you are feeling weak, then ask those around you for prayer. But also look around to see whose hands can you hold up today. Every prayer matters and your prayers could change the course of those who can’t hold their hands up any longer.
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Jessi | LifeAbundant-Blog.com
Posted at 10:15h, 07 JulyI’m so sorry for the mommas in your group who received bad news this week. ๐ I’m lifting them up in prayer today.
Rebecca Jo
Posted at 11:09h, 07 JulySad to hear so many got bad news… that’s so disheartening but coming together in prayer gives the strength from God to continue on
Cheryl
Posted at 12:47h, 07 JulyI faithfully pray for you, still. Just prayed for you earlier! Yes, there have been so many who have held up my hands, not only in the past infertility battles, but in SO many other battles throughout life. I have often thought of Aaron and Hur and their role in Biblical history. Of course, we know much about Moses, and even Aaron, but Hur is one of those unsung heroes that we really know very little about. Yet, his name is here…for all of us to see that it is not in the big or the popular or the highly-promoted…but it is in the faithful. The quiet. The lowly ones….who go about doing God’s will, even if they think no one on earth will ever notice. SO thankful God chose to give us this account of these unassuming, quiet men who were faithful to their post of duty, even when they may have thought no one noticed. They probably never dreamed that act of faithfulness would make it to the pages of our Bible!!! Yet, they are still inspiring us today!
Ashley
Posted at 19:21h, 09 JulyI don’t know where I’d be without the faith-filled support of my family and friends
Leigh
Posted at 08:06h, 10 JulyCommunity is so important. We need the prayerful support of our friends and faith community.
Mary Leigh
Posted at 15:25h, 11 JulyI love this story so much. It is such an important reminder to us to be faithful in prayer and in lifting up those around us. Also, it the importance of being lifted up ourselves sometimes. Moses was their leader and he was the one that needed lifting up. Powerful powerful truth. Thank you for sharing this.
Patricia
Posted at 05:52h, 13 Julyonce again you’ve touched on an important topic that was jut being discussed in our life group! I’m so sorry for the hard days and bad news, but I’m thankful for the community the Lord provides when we can’t do it alone.
Lauren
Posted at 23:04h, 16 JulyI am SO grateful for people in my life who have “held up my arms” when I’ve been tired in this journey. Gosh, there have been so many times I have felt like there was no strength left and relied so much on the prayers of others. And then there have been times when my friends feel week, when I’ve been able to believe and hope on their behalf. It’s such an honor to be that person in someone’s life!
Vanessa Figueroa
Posted at 10:42h, 21 JulySo grateful for the faith friends I have in my life, those that pray, encourage, gift me with faith presents and just fuel me to keep going… I couldn’t do it without them.