1503) I love doing projects with my students because I see their love for reading, writing and just plain creating shine in their eyes. One such project are the puppet productions we have done. We write the script, make the puppets and scenery, record the dialogue, add sound effects and more.

To pull off a project of this magnitude, we have to practice our production almost as long is it takes to create everything. One difficulty of practicing and performing is how tired your arms get when you’re holding up a puppet the amount of time the play requires. I tell the students to support their raised arm with the other one and it will help.

As I think about these projects, support stands out in my mind today. Psalm 46:1 tells us God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble. The Hebrew word for help here is ezrah which means support.

In this Psalm, God promises to help us but it’s easy to assume that the only help out there is to give us what we’re asking for. If we’re asking for the healing of a loved-one. If we’re asking for a much-needed job. If we’re asking for safety in our travels. These are good things to ask and God promises to help us, which often means that no matter which direction life goes in these areas, God will support us. He will hold us up as the kids are having to do with their other arm during our puppet productions.

The hard thing about this support is sometimes we just barely survive difficult things in life. God can take “just barely” and make it good in our lives. The “how” part of making something good may not be immediately known, so faith is a must. God strengthens our faith every time we go through something, and we can see that these difficult things made us into something better than we were.

Support is always good.