Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle. Exodus 17:12, NLT
God created us to live in community. From the very beginning, when He made Adam and Eve, He designed us to live in a relationship with each other. This is how He intended us to live—surrounded by others who can support and strengthen us. Yet, the enemy works tirelessly to isolate us. When we’re alone, it’s easier to grow weary and lose heart. But God doesn’t want us to face challenges on our own.
We’re called to help each other, just like Aaron and Hur did for Moses. When Moses grew tired, they stepped in. They didn’t leave him to struggle alone. Instead, they found a stone for him to sit on, then held up his arms, steadying him until the battle was won. Their support made all the difference.
So here’s the question:
When the days are tough, do you have someone to hold up your arms?
If not, there’s something you can do about it. The first step is to pray. Ask God to bring people into your life who can stand with you and encourage and support you when you’re weary. But there’s also something you can do right now—be the one who reaches out to others. Declare yourself as a follower of Christ, even if it feels risky. Be the person who holds someone else’s arms up when theirs are tired. This is a ministry—a way to be the hands and feet of Jesus in your school.
As you do this, trust God to bring people to you—people you may not even expect, who will be a source of spiritual encouragement. We’ve heard countless stories from educators who’ve prayed for this very thing, and time and again, God is faithful. He will bring you the community you need.
One powerful way to foster this community is to start a prayer group or Bible study for teachers. Invite those you know who are Christians, and even those you’re unsure about. Ask God to show you who He wants you to include. And as for topics—why not start with these devotionals, or check out Christian Educators’ LIFT group resources for ideas? OR It can be just as simple as meeting to pray for each other!
Lord, thank You for creating us to live in community. For those feeling isolated, bring them the people they need to encourage and strengthen them. Give them the courage to reach out and connect with others, and the time to build lasting relationships in Your name. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Copyright Morgan Preston.
Morgan is a former middle school language arts and social studies teacher. She is currently Christian Educators’ Marketing and Communications Coordinator and serves her middle school students and teachers through First Priority.
