Day 254

Isaiah 8:1–9:21; 2 Corinthians 12:1-10; Psalm 55:1-23; Proverbs 23:4-5

IN OUR READING from Psalms today, we could likely commiserate with David in his heart cry: “Fear and trembling overwhelm me, and I can’t stop shaking. Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest! I would fly far away to the quiet of the wilderness. How quickly I would escape —far from this wild storm of hatred” (Psalm 55:5-8).

We’ve probably each experienced moments that are so overwhelming that our desire to fly away is almost palpable. Which is why one of the most famous Scriptures, found a few stanzas later, is so comforting: “Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall” (Psalm 55:22).

Here’s the thing about a famous verse like this: It isn’t a magic spell that can be recited like a mantra to get things done. Yes, memorizing Scripture and being able to recall it is completely appropriate and immensely helpful, but simply reciting the words doesn’t work like magic.

The verse contains an explicit instruction —that we must cast, or give, our burdens to the Lord. Simply saying it isn’t the same as doing it. The verse is inviting us to take action. If we aren’t willing to cast our burdens on the Lord, then we can say the words all day long and get nowhere.

If we want to get to the good part —the part where God takes care of us and doesn’t permit us to slip and fall —then we have to collaborate by giving our burdens to the Lord.

This doesn’t mean that we cast our burdens on the Lord only to go back in an hour to collect them. This means that we fully trust God, release our expectations, and invite Him to show us the next steps, fully allowing Him to take care of us. There are ongoing actions involved on our part.

Do you want to be able to fly away like a bird to a place of rest? Maybe you’re not going to sprout wings to fly away today, but you don’t need them. Cast your burdens on the Lord and “he will shelter you with his wings” instead (Psalm 91:4).

MEDITATION:

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end.