Psalm 55:22: “Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you, he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”
I love how David was so honest and lived real life in his prayers to the Lord, throughout the book of Psalms. David spoke about his distress, grief, sorrow, joys, gratefulness, and benefits of life lived in his relationship with God, throughout the Psalms.
There were times David was calm due to his confidence for protection and peace, as he said in Psalm 3:
- Psalm 3:3:“But you O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory and the lifter of my head.”
David had struggles. He had strong feelings and emotions. If he was angry, he admitted it and told God about it. If he was afraid, he told God he had fear and asked God to bring resolution. David felt trapped and alone many times. But he found his strength in God as his shield, sustainer, provider, and protector.
- Psalm 3:5: “I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.”
David had implicit trust and faith that God would support, uphold, and be his sustainer.
In Psalm 6 David pleads with the Lord to not punish him as he expresses sorrow over some sin. He admitted that he was physically sick. He said he was upset and disturbed and worn out with pain. David was completely honest with God and turned his attention towards God’s mercy.
- Psalm 6:6: “I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping.”
David cried and had grief. But David had confidence that God would rescue him, as he said in:
Psalm 6:10: “All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled; they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.”
Psalm 40 is David’s testimony of what God was able to do in his life under difficult circumstances.
- Psalm 40:2-3: “He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.”
David is saying that he had to wait patiently, but God lifted him up so others would look at what God had done in his life in difficult circumstances.
Then in Psalm 55, David says to cast your burden on the LORD.
- Psalm 55:22: “Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”
So do you pray harder and more frequently when you are sick and in pain, have an impossible situation, or have someone that has hurt you, as David did? I would have to say I pray more often when experiencing any type of turmoil. Don’t we all do that? We pray more when we are going through a trial and have burdens, versus when life is good. But we need to be in a continual state of praising God in the good times and the bad, and keep our mind filled with the knowledge of God by recalling precious promises found in His word.
David poured out his heart passionately to the Lord. He didn’t beat around the bush. David said it the way it was. He prayed hard. Then David waited patiently for God’s answers. He said when he was afraid he put his trust in God.
It all comes down to ultimately casting our anxieties on the Lord (1 Peter 5:7), again and again. We have to let them go. Then give thanksgiving and honor to God that He is sovereign, He is omnipotent, and He is omnipresent. He is God!
Psalm 64:10 declares: “Let the righteous one rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult!”
What similarities do you see between Psalm 55:22 and 1 Peter 5:7?
What is Jesus saying we should do in Matthew 11:28-29?
What does David say in Psalm 63:3 is better than life?
Have your emotions been out there lately? Or are you going through a tranquil time right now? We all have different personalities given to us by our creator. Trials will come. Spend time in the Psalms.
Come before the throne of grace in complete confidence that Christ understands. He is in charge of the how! He cares for you.
Christina Fox said in her book “A Heart Set Free. A Journey To Hope Through The Psalms Of Lament: “And this is the place in our journey where we have to work hard at trusting God, we have to exercise our faith, weed out sin, go beneath the layers of our emotions to find the truth, and respond to God in praise and worship for who He is and what He has done.”
Make a list of ten things you are thankful for. Praise God for each one of them. Review them throughout the day. Pray the words of Psalm 145. It is a song of praise of David, and a great Psalm to memorize.
Listen to Casting Crowns song, “Oh My Soul.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn5aq54yu8A