They can take on many forms, but one thing they all have in common... well perhaps two commonalities is that; they aren't meant to be pleasant, but they are meant to grow our faith!
Hi All,
I've been walking through a really tough trial for almost two years now, and I haven't always handled it perfectly, but The Lord has given me some amazing revelations through it that I want to share in order to help all of us bring God glory while plowing through the trials we face!!
I believe He's taught me an important secret and it starts with Moses in Exodus 17:10-16,
So Joshua did as Moses said, and fought with Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the hilltop. 11 Now when Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and when he lowered his hand [due to fatigue], Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands were heavy and he grew tired. So they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side and one on the other side; so it was that his hands were steady until the sun set. 13 So Joshua overwhelmed and defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this in the book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly wipe out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 And Moses built an altar and named it The Lord Is My Banner; 16 saying, “The Lord has sworn [an oath]; the Lord will have war against Amalek from generation to generation.”
According to Jewish traditions, Amalek represents pure evil - this world and the flesh and all that is opposed to God. So, we can see here that this passage is a picture of a spiritual battle all of us will face from time to time.
And when do we usually lift up our hands (our countenance) to God, but in praise, right? There is amazing power in praise! But it also takes amazing faith to praise God in the midst of a trial, doesn't it?
There is so much I'd like to share on the power in praise, but for today let me just say, as long as Moses lifted His arms Israel's army was winning! Don't loose sight of this truth!
BUT sometimes even the greatest spiritual leaders grow weary and need the help of others to keep going! To keep praising God in the midst of the toughest battles we need one another to stay strong!
And then God gave me these verses in Hebrews 12:12-13,
Therefore lift up your tired hands, and strengthen your weak knees. Make straight paths for your feet, so that those who are weak and lame will not fall, but rather be healed.
As long as we're in this world we'll be dealing with Amalek and our most powerful weapons to experience the most incredible victories is our arms (or countenance) lifted high in praise and others to help us keep them raised when we grow weary.
Blessings,
sue