Holding Each Other Up

We as wives and mothers can get physically tired, mentally exhausted and very overwhelmed at times. When you add one extra burden or struggle into our hearts, it seems to bring everything to a head and we can feel so utterly alone.

Ladies, do not be ashamed of those moments of weakness. Do not feel like a failure. More importantly, do not be too proud to accept encouragement and love when they are offered. Daily we draw our strength from the Almighty but there are times when God sends someone to give comfort and care. We must remember that His followers are also His instruments.

Would you believe that Moses, the leader of Israel had these same struggles? He was given a work by God but was growing weary in it. In Exodus 17:11-12, we find him barely able to raise up his staff during a major battle and whenever he lowered it, the Amalekite enemies would prevail. Thus, his arms began to tire and soon he could no longer hold them up! What was to be done? Did not God give this responsibility to Moses? He had made it possible for him to part the Red Sea and bring water from a rock! Where was He now when his strength was failing?

This time, dear reader, God was going to give the task to Aaron and Hur. The two men found a stone and placed it gently under Moses to relieve his aching body. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his tired hands for him and as a result, Israel won the war.

When I read those verses, I see such beauty. It is so touching to imagine the men carefully tending to dear Moses. He was so strong at times, and yet, he was a human who could grow weary too! Though the work given to him was God ordained, it was clearly a heavy burden for him alone at that time. Just like ourselves. We may be doing God’s will, but it doesn’t mean it will always be easy and that we must always be expected to handle it ourselves.

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

~ Galatians 6:2

May we likewise be as ministering angels unto our dear sisters in Christ. Our husbands will always be our foremost earthly supporter, but they are out in the workplace for a great majority of the day. This is where we need each other. It can be as simple as sending over a meal (double up on your dinner that night), offering to watch their children (consider it a field trip of fellowship), or sending a card with godly encouragement (involve the children in drawing pictures and copying Scripture).

Let us not forget the blessings of a few words fitly spoken (Proverbs 25:11). What one sweet sentence can do to ease our pains! A few years ago I was going through a major change in my life and was struggling in an area. A younger woman whom I did not know very well took me aside at a church gathering and offered me some comforting words. Ladies, they were like a balm to my hurting heart! Do not underestimate any small gesture.

Let us be sensitive to every women’s needs. It is not always the mother with many children who require support, but also the women who have not received any. There are also the single sisters in the church who have their own burdens. Our struggles are all different, but the fact that we need godly encouragement makes us all the same.

What we must do is remind the women in our lives that they are not alone on this earth. They have Jesus the Christ and His followers for help! We are praying for one another. We are here for one another. We are one family in the kingdom of God, and we will hold each other up! Like Moses defeated the Amalekites with the aid of Aaron and Hur, we too will be victorious by supporting each other in our daily battles!

“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow…”

                                                         ~ Ecclesiastes 4:9-10a

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