What does it look like to you to cast your burdens on God? When something weights considerably on your heart, how inclined are you to deal with your problems on your own? And when it becomes too much, what does surrendering control of your burdens to God entail? I, for one, don’t do very well with asking for help. When encountering a problem, I always want to find a solution on my own first before asking for help, whether it’s digging through documentation of code for hours at work, trying to DIY a fix when something around the house breaks, or encountering a tough life situation I haven’t been through before. But most things in life aren’t so simple that you can power through on gumption alone.
Psalm 55, written by David, was borne of a time of incredible grief. It was probably concerning Absalom, David’s son who revolted and overthrew David’s rule. Deep, intentional betrayal can be one of the most painful experiences for many of us – moreso when, like David expresses, they were once a trusted confidant. Perhaps even family, or a brother/sister in faith. The language in this passage – “I am restless in my complaint and I moan”, “My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me.” “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.” – expresses such heartbreaking pain, it moves you just reading it.
Such serious experiences are something each of us can vividly recall from times in our lives – maybe some of you are dealing with this pain as you read this. Dealing with all that hurt on your own can be physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually exhausting. Praying desperately for an easy escape as David did is all too relatable. Believe me, I’ve tried shouldering this pain before, and detachment and isolation seemed way more appealing than strength to endure. But what I love about Psalm 55 is how quickly David goes from lamenting his pain and heartache to praising God, expressing at verse 16 how God uplifts those who call to Him: “But I call to God, and the Lord will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.” He goes right from focusing on himself to focusing on God’s sovereign control over his circumstances.
David’s reaction is a great example to me: amidst his desperate plea for deliverance from his pain, he shares His pain with the Lord and thanks Him for redemption. It’s so easy to cling to our human pride, and hold the guilt, shame, embarrassment, betrayal, frustration, and anguish that come with the bad things that happen to us. It can be incredibly tough to admit we can’t handle things ourselves, and it can often feel impossible to consider even asking for help in those times. But God has promised, time and time again, that He is here to bear the heaviest weights His faithful followers carry. And it’s a habit we as believers should practice through prayer, speech, song, and community, so that we may immediately share our troubles with Him when the need arises. Humbling ourselves enough to admit we need His help is a show of strength in your faith, one I believe through experience that the Lord rewards in kind.
In Isaiah 41:13, the Lord says “For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’” In 1 Peter 5:6-7, Peter assures us: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” Christ comforts us in Matthew 11:28, assuring His followers “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” I pray for those of you feeling strained or crushed by the loads their hearts bear, that you can share your troubles with the Lord. I offer thanks and praise to God for helping the hopeless and healing the broken time and time again, and for the relief we can find when we no longer hold to our griefs and sorrows. And I simply want to close with Psalm 55:22 as our reminder: “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.”