Our aversion to feeling helpless can rob people of the help they actually need from us.
We love to focus on fixing problems when what people really need is our presence. We fixate on solutions when the best thing we can offer is our support.
I spoke this past Sunday at my church about Moses in Exodus 17. It’s a story I first came across as a teenager. I had just become a follower of Jesus. I’ve always loved the passage, despite not fully understanding all the details, because I think it’s such a great picture of supporting one another.
During one of Israel’s battles, Moses is standing on a hill overlooking the fight. When he holds up his staff, the Israelites prevail. When Moses lets his arms drop, they start losing ground.
Inevitably, Moses gets tired. But his friends Aaron and Hur get him a rock to sit on. They stand on either side of him and hold his arms steady.
I’ve always loved that they don’t take the staff away from Moses. He’s still the one holding on. They are just there to support him and give him the extra help he needs to keep going.
Our lives are filled with ups and downs. The more people we care about, the more often we’ll find ourselves close to someone who is struggling. Difficult times are inevitable. They’re just part of life, both for us and the people we love.
But we can feel helpless when there’s nothing we can do about the struggles our loved ones are facing. We want to step in. We want to help. And it’s great when we can. More often than not, there aren’t easy solutions or quick fixes to the things life throws at us. Sometimes all we can do is be a listening ear, provide a little support, and maybe offer to say a prayer for them.
But these seemingly small acts are anything but insignificant. We remember the listening ear and the encouraging word. We remember the people who showed up. The people who were there for us and held us up. Maybe it doesn’t seem like we’ve done a lot, but sometimes it’s exactly enough. What can feel like helplessness can actually be the help someone needs.
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11