Come Out With Your Hands Up!
There Is Victory in Your Praise
Have you ever found yourself going through one thing after another? Just when you think you have made it through one storm, another one shows up. You pray, you fast, you believe God, and yet the battle continues. Sometimes, if we are honest, we get tired. We get discouraged. We begin to wonder how much more we can take.
Tests, trials, and tribulations have a way of wearing us down. They can make us forget what God has already done, who He is, and what He has promised us. But I want to encourage you today: Don't give up! You can come out of this with your hands up!
I'm not talking about surrendering to the enemy. I'm talking about lifting your hands in praise to the God who has never lost a battle!
There is power in praise, not just when everything is going well, but also when life gets difficult. Anybody can praise God when the bills are paid, the family is doing well, the body is healthy, and everything seems to be falling into place. But can you praise Him when you are in the middle of the battle? Can you lift your hands when you don't know how things are going to work out?
The Word of God gives us a powerful example of how to fight and win in difficult circumstances. Let's examine Moses and the children of Israel in Exodus 17.
The Backstory: From Deliverance to Discouragement
Before we go further, we need to understand what preceded the battle the Children of Israel would find themselves in.
God had delivered the Israelites from Egyptian slavery through the mighty hand of God and the leadership of Moses. They witnessed miracle after miracle. They had seen God bring judgment upon Egypt, part the Red Sea, and bring them safely across on dry ground.
Yet, not long after their deliverance, they found themselves thirsty in the wilderness.
Instead of trusting God’s to provide, the people began to complain and quarrel with Moses, accusing him of bringing them out of Egypt and into the wilderness to die. Although their words were directed toward Moses, their complaints reflected a deeper problem: they were questioning whether God would continue to provide for them.
Moses cried out to God because the people were so angry that he feared he would be stoned. God instructed Moses to take the elders of Israel and strike the rock with the rod he had used to strike the Nile. When Moses obeyed, water came out of the rock, and the people were able to drink.
The place was called Massah and Meribah. Massah is associated with testing, while Meribah means quarreling or strife.
Think about that for a moment. God had just delivered them from Egypt, yet they were already struggling to trust Him in the wilderness.
How quickly we can forget what God has done when we become consumed by what we are going through!
Have you ever been there? God brought you out of something you thought would destroy you, but when the next challenge came, fear and frustration began to take over.
We must be careful not to allow our circumstances to make us ungrateful. When we focus so much on what we don't have, we can lose sight of what God has already done.
This leads us to Exodus 17:8, where the Bible tells us:
“Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.” — Exodus 17:8, KJV
The Israelites had just argued with Moses and tested God, and now found themselves in a their first battle with an enemy nation. But this time, Moses would demonstrate a strategy that would teach Israel and us a valuable lessons about how to posture ourselves when we are under attack from the enemy.
1. Perspective Matters: Get Above the Battle
When Amalek came against Israel, Moses instructed Joshua to choose men and go fight. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of a hill.
Exodus 17:9 says:
“And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.” — KJV
Moses understood that there was a battle taking place in the valley, but he also understood the importance of his position.
He went up the hill.
Sometimes, when you are in the middle of a battle, you become so consumed by what is happening around you that you cannot see beyond your circumstances. The problem becomes bigger than your perspective. The pressure becomes greater than your peace. The battle begins to occupy so much of your mind that you forget who is fighting for you.
But you cannot afford to let the valley become your whole world!
Don't wallow in your troubles. Lift yourself up and tell your troubles who your God is!
I'm not suggesting that you pretend the problem doesn't exist. Faith doesn't require us to deny reality. It calls us to look at our reality through the lens of who God is.
Moses went up the hill, and we must learn how to rise above the things that are trying to pull us down. We do that through prayer, worship, praise, and remembering the promises of God.
David declared:
“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.” — Psalm 121:1–2, KJV
David knew where his help came from. His confidence wasn't in the hills themselves, but in the Lord who made heaven and earth.
And Psalm 24:7–8 declares:
“Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.” — KJV
Our God is strong and mighty! He is mighty in battle!
When you feel like you are at your lowest point, remember that your circumstances do not change the character of God. He is still faithful. He is still powerful. He is still able.
DON'T GIVE UP!
Lift your hands. Open your mouth. Begin to praise Him, even if you have to praise Him through your tears.
Your situation may be real, but so is your God!
2. Positioning Matters: Put Yourself in a Position to Win
Exodus 17:11 tells us:
“And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.” — KJV
Notice the connection between Moses lifting his hands and Israel prevailing in battle. When Moses' hands were raised, Israel gained the advantage. When his hands came down, Amalek gained the advantage. Moses had to maintain his position.
There are times when we must make a conscious decision to position ourselves in a place of faith rather than fear, prayer rather than panic, and praise rather than constant complaining.
This does not mean that we will never feel afraid, tired, or discouraged. It means that we refuse to let those feelings have the final say over our response to God.
We have to be intentional about where we position ourselves spiritually.
Are you positioning yourself around people who strengthen your faith, or are you surrounded by people who constantly feed your fear? Are you filling your mind with the Word of God, or are you allowing the problems of life to consume your thoughts?
Our positioning matters.
The Stone Was a Firm Foundation
Exodus 17:12 tells us that when Moses became tired, Aaron and Hur placed a stone beneath him so that he could sit down while they held up his hands.
That stone provided support when Moses could no longer stand on his own.
It reminds me of the importance of having a firm foundation. Jesus taught us in Matthew 7:24–25 that the person who hears His words and does them is like a wise man who builds his house upon a rock. When the rain falls, the floods come, and the winds blow, the house remains standing because it has a firm foundation.
Our firm foundation is the Word of God!
Life will bring storms. The winds will blow, and the rain will fall. But when our lives are built upon the Word of God, we have something solid to stand on when everything around us seems unstable.
Don't build your faith on how you feel today. Don't build it on what people say about you. Don't build it on how things look right now. Build your faith on the Word of God!
When you cannot understand what God is doing, hold on to what you know about who He is. When you don't see the answer, stand on His promises.When you feel like you are losing the battle, remember that your foundation is not your circumstances. Your foundation is Christ.
3. Partnering Matters: Choose Your Circle Wisely
One of the most powerful parts of this story is that Moses did not fight this battle alone.
Exodus 17:10 tells us that Joshua went to fight the Amalekites while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up the hill.
Each man had a role to play.
Joshua fought in the valley. Moses lifted his hands on the hill. Aaron and Hur stood beside Moses and helped him keep his hands raised. They were working together toward the same victory. I love this because it reminds us that God never intended for us to carry every burden by ourselves.
There are times when you will be the one fighting in the valley. There are times when you will be the one standing on the hill, praying and believing God. And there will be times when you are the one who must hold somebody else's hands up because they are too tired to do it themselves.
We need each other! But we must also be wise about the people we allow into our lives.
Aaron and Hur were there to support Moses when he needed them. They did not abandon him when his arms became heavy. They recognized what was needed and stepped in to help.
You need people in your life who will pray with you, encourage you, speak the truth to you, and remind you of God's promises when you are struggling to remember them yourself. You need people who will help you stand, not people who are waiting for you to fall.
Psalm 1:1 begins:
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly...” — KJV
We must be careful about whose counsel we follow and whose voices we allow to influence our decisions.
Choose your circle wisely. Seek godly fellowship and trustworthy spiritual leadership. Surround yourself with people who are committed to prayer, faith, accountability, and living according to the Word of God.
And don't forget that partnering goes both ways. Sometimes, God will use somebody else to hold your hands up. Other times, He will use you to hold up theirs.
If you see somebody struggling, don't just criticize them for being tired. Help them! If somebody is going through a difficult season, pray for them. If somebody has lost hope, remind them of the goodness of God. We are better when we stand together in faith.
4. Perseverance Matters: Don't Quit When Your Arms Get Heavy
Let's be honest. Holding your arms up for hours is not easy.
Exodus 17:12 tells us that Moses' hands became heavy. He grew tired, but the battle wasn't over. As long as his staff was raised, Israel prevailed, but when he let his arms down the Amalekites gained the advantage.
What do you do when you have been praying and believing God for a long time, but you still haven't seen the answer? What do you do when you are tired of being strong? What do you do when your hands feel too heavy to lift? You keep going, and when you cannot do it alone, you allow somebody to help you!
Moses did not have to stand on his own strength. Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on each side, and his hands remained steady until the sun went down.
They persevered until the battle was won.
Sometimes, perseverance means continuing to pray when you feel weary. Sometimes, it means opening your Bible when your mind is overwhelmed. Sometimes, it means showing up one more day, taking one more step, or asking for help when you need it.
Perseverance doesn't mean that you never get tired. It means that tiredness doesn't have to be the end of your story.
And remember, praise is not always a loud shout. Sometimes praise is a whisper through tears. Sometimes praise is simply saying, “Lord, I still trust You,” when you don't understand what is happening.
The Bible says in 2 Timothy 2:12:
“If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us.” — KJV
Our faithfulness to God matters, even in difficult seasons.
Don't let the length of the battle convince you that God has forgotten you. Don't let weariness make you believe that your prayers are useless. Keep trusting Him, keep obeying His Word, and keep your heart turned toward Him.
And when your hands get heavy, let somebody help you hold them up.
The Significance of the Rod: Remember Who Is Fighting for You
Throughout Moses' journey, God used the rod as a sign of His power at pivotal moments.
God instructed Moses to use the rod when the plagues came upon Egypt. Moses stretched it out as God directed, and the Red Sea was divided. At Rephidim, God instructed Moses to use the rod and water came from the rock. Then, during the battle against Amalek, Moses held the rod of God in his hand as he lifted his hands toward heaven.
The rod itself was not the source of the power. The power belonged to God. Moses was walking in obedience to the instructions God had given him.
That is an important distinction.
We must never put our trust in an object, a ritual, or a particular method as though it has power apart from God. Our confidence belongs in the Lord, who is able to work through ordinary people and ordinary things to accomplish His purpose.
Moses held the rod of God, but God was the One who gave Israel the victory.
The same principle applies to us today. We are not trusting in the strength of our hands, the volume of our praise, or the perfection of our circumstances. We are trusting in the God to whom we lift our hands!
Praise is not a way to manipulate God into doing what we want. Praise is an expression of our faith, gratitude, reverence, and confidence in Him.
We praise Him because He is worthy, even before we see the outcome.
Jehovah Nissi: The Lord Is Our Banner
After Israel defeated Amalek, Moses built an altar and called it Jehovah Nissi.
Exodus 17:15 says:
“And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:” — KJV
Jehovah Nissi means “The LORD is my banner.”
A banner is a visible sign that identifies, gathers, or rallies people. In the context of this battle, the name Moses gave the altar declared that the Lord was the One who had brought them through.
The victory belonged to God!
Moses did not build an altar to celebrate his own strength. He did not give Joshua all the credit for his fighting ability. He recognized the Lord as the source of their victory.
We need to remember to give God the glory for what He has done in our lives. When He brings you through, give Him praise. When He makes a way, give Him praise. When He strengthens you to endure what you thought you could not endure, give Him praise. And when you are still waiting for the answer, praise Him because He is still God. Don't allow the battle to make you forget the One who is able to bring you through it.
Don't Wait Until the Battle Is Over to Praise Him
David declared in Psalm 34:1:
“I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” — KJV
Notice that David said, “at all times,”not just when things are going well, or when the bills are paid. Not just when the doctor gives you a good report, or when your children are doing what you want them to do. We are to bless the Lord at all times! That means our praise cannot be based solely on whether we like what is happening in our lives. We praise God because of who He is.
First Corinthians 10:13 reminds us that temptation is common to humanity, but God is faithful. He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to bear, and He will provide a way to endure it.
That doesn't mean we will never face hardship or that every difficult situation will end the way we want. It means we can trust God's faithfulness and look to Him for strength, wisdom, and a way forward.
Some of you may feel like you are in a low place right now. Some of you may feel like you are being attacked on every side. Maybe you are dealing with problems in your relationships, your health, your job, or your finances. Maybe life has become so overwhelming that you are struggling to find the strength to keep going.
But I want to encourage you today: There is still a reason to praise God! Your praise is not a denial of your pain. It is a declaration that your pain does not have the final word over your faith.
You may be in a battle, but you are not without hope and you may fell overwhelmed, but you do not have to fight alone.
You may be consumed with thoughts of how everything will work out, but you can still trust the God who holds your future. I encourage you to put a faith praise deposit down on your victory!
Lift your hands and begin to thank God for His faithfulness. Praise Him for bringing you through what you have already survived. Praise Him for giving you strength for today because He is worthy, even while you are waiting for tomorrow.
Don't wait until the battle is over to praise Him when can praise Him right now!
It's Time to Come Out With Your Hands Up!
I want to leave you with this encouragement.
Whatever you are facing today, don't allow discouragement to steal your praise. Remember the four principles we learned from Moses and the children of Israel:
Perspective: Get above the battle. Don't allow your circumstances to become bigger than your view of God.
Positioning: Build your life on the firm foundation of God's Word, and position yourself to stand in faith.
Partnering: Choose your circle wisely. Surround yourself with godly people who will pray with you and help hold your hands up when you grow weary.
Perseverance: Don't quit when the battle gets difficult. Keep trusting God, keep obeying His Word, and keep moving forward.
And above all, remember that the Lord is your banner. The battle may be difficult, but you do not have to face it alone.
If you are feeling helpless, lift your hands.
If you have lost hope, lift your hands.
If your relationships are struggling, lift your hands.
If you are worried about your job, your health, or your finances, lift your hands.
If life feels overwhelming, lift your hands.
Not because lifting your hands is a magic formula, but because you are choosing to turn your heart toward God in the middle of your circumstances.
Your hands may be heavy, but God can strengthen you. And when you need help, don't be afraid to reach out to somebody who can stand with you in prayer.
The enemy wants you to believe that this battle is the end of your story. But you can choose to respond in faith, remembering what God has done and trusting Him with what lies ahead.
So, if you believe that God will give you the strength to endure and lead you according to His will, declare it with me:
“I'M COMING OUT WITH MY HANDS UP!”
I'm coming out with praise in my mouth!
I'm coming out with my faith intact!
I'm coming out still trusting God!
I'm coming out giving Him the glory!
And I'm not waiting until the battle is over to praise Him!
A Prayer for Those Who Are in the Battle
Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for Your faithfulness. Thank You for being our help in times of trouble and our strength when we are weak.
Lord, You see every person who is struggling today. You know every burdens they are carrying.
I ask You to strengthen them in their time of need. Remind them that they are not alone. Give them wisdom to make the right decisions, courage to face their challenges, and faith to trust You even when they cannot see the outcome.
Teach us to praise You in the good times and the bad times. Help us to remain grateful, obedient, and faithful to Your Word. Surround us with godly people who will encourage us, pray with us, and help us stand when we grow weary.
Lord, when our hands become heavy, send the help we need. When our hearts become discouraged, remind us of Your promises. When we are tempted to give up, renew our strength.
We declare that our hope is in You. You are our banner, our help, and our firm foundation.
We will continue to trust You, praise You, and walk in obedience to Your Word.
In Jesus' name, Amen.