There’s a book written years ago called the “All Better Book”, where children are asked how to solve really big problems. For example: With billions of people in the world, someone should be able to figure out a system where no one is lonely. What do you suggest?
Max, age 9, "Make food that talks to you when you eat."
Brian, age 8, "Sing a song. Stomp your feet. Read a book. Sometimes I think no one loves me, so I do one of these."
The issue of loneliness has reached such epidemic proportions in the UK that Theresa May, the Prime Minister, has recently appointed a new position on her cabinet, a Minister of Loneliness.
With billions of people in the world, someone should be able to figure out a system where no one is lonely.
Someone has and it’s called the church.
Exodus 17:10-13
10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.
Every person we lock eyes with is going through some great battle.
Marriage or parenting or health or finances or job or ministry—life is hard, for everybody.
We’ve all got Amalekite-like realities rising up against us. Things coming at us that we didn’t ask for. Circumstances that at times will seem overwhelming. Situations that pile on top of one another and leave us wondering how we’re going to get through whatever it is we’re going through.
We will grow weary in the battle.
Verse 12, “When Moses’ hands grew tired…” (not IF but WHEN)
“I’m exhausted from pushing. Pushing, pushing, always pushing. This pushing is such a way of life for me. I barely know how to live otherwise. I’m always working on something. Trying to make life better for me or for someone else. It feels like I heave myself at life. Always looking for some way to improve things…I’m frayed like an old rope…and I’m pretty sure there isn’t a verse that goes, ‘He leadeth me to utter exhaustion, he runneth me ragged.’” – John Eldredge
We can get weary battling our own sinful nature, our fallenness is relentless.
We can get weary relating with others’ sinful nature.
I know I’m struggling with weariness when…
- Easily irritated
- Easily discouraged
- Mindless TV watching
- Lose myself in social media world
- Withdrawal from people, even those that are life-giving
- Falling asleep during prayer & Scripture reading
- Searching for something on the calendar “to look forward to”
- Daydreaming about getting back in bed when I just got out of bed
God will use the strength of those around us to sustain us.
Notice in Exodus 17 that the Lord used Aaron and Hur to come alongside Moses, to help hold his hands up and steady him until sunset.
You can start into the battle “on your own”, but you won’t stay with it and endure without some people around you to help you.
We’re going to get tired…
We’re going to let our guard down…
We’re going to be tempted to give up and give in…
It’s in those moments, that we’ve got to let others help us in ways that we can’t help ourselves.
We all need an Aaron and Hur to come around us, steady us, and hold our hands up until the battle subsides.
Following Jesus was always intended to be an “us & we” thing.
With billions of people in the world, someone should be able to figure out a system where no one is lonely.
Someone did, it’s called the church. A place where everybody’s welcome, nobody’s perfect, and anything’s possible!
