Comfort Zone: Stretching Beyond Your LimitsSample

Have you read the book or seen the movie Unbroken? If not, I won’t spoil it for you (but seriously, go read it because it’s an incredible, true story!). In it, there’s a scene in which the main character, Louie Zamperini, is forced to hold this unbelievably heavy steel beam over his head for as long as possible. Incredibly, Louie did… for a remarkable 37 minutes, even though he was malnourished, exhausted, and on the verge of collapse.  It was a moment of pure triumph. 

That scene reminded me of one that I had read in the life of Moses. It comes from the book of Exodus, when Moses and his brother Aaron were leading the Israelites out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. In one poignant scene, the Israelites were fighting against one of their many enemies, the Amalekites. By this point, they were tired, hungry, thirsty, lost, and scared. However, God had not forgotten them; he granted the Israelites victory in this battle... so long as Moses held his staff toward heaven, giving all of the glory to God. 

As you read the story, it’s easy to picture Moses as Louie Zamperini, triumphantly holding that beam above his head. It’s easy to assume that, of course, God gave Moses the superhuman strength needed to hold his staff in the air all day as the fighting continued. Yet, here’s what actually happened: “When Moses’ hands grew tired... Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.” With that, the Israelites won the battle.

Have you ever been in a position where others have literally or figuratively held you up? This is how God’s economy is supposed to work, for his “power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

As you think about service, consider the people who may be growing weary from the battle they wage day in and day out, year-round. We have the opportunity to remind them that they are not alone in carrying the burden of bringing justice to a broken world. We get to prop up their work, to hold up their tired hands—this is true service. 

How can you humbly serve the ones whose arms may be tired? 

Monica Warren
Single Ministry Coordinator