Ever since the fall of man, men and women down through the ages, have had to face the fact that: "In this world ye shall have tribulation." Sooner or later we all become downcast and perplexed.
When we go through such an experience, comfort and reassurance can be found in Psalm 55:22. "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee."
The Psalmist was referring to the burdens of the heart. He was aware that mental burdens can be even worse than physical, and there is only one source of relief.
The burdened Psalmist was David. He was a King. He was wealthy. He was Godly and at this point aged. This demonstrates to us that trials come to high as well as low, to rich as well as poor, to young as well as old and to saints as well as sinners.
We tend to think our burden is unique, much heavier than that of others and that some people even seem to escape. This is not so, burdens and afflictions are common to all and cannot be avoided.
Burdens also bring temptations, some of which are to be found in this psalm. There is the temptation to think that God is unconcerned. Verse 1; "Give ear to my prayer O God; and hide not thyself." There is the temptation to seek to escape from life. "Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then I would fly away, and be at rest." There is also the temptation to become bitter towards people and life, v:15 "Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell."
David's advice is: "Cast thy burden upon the Lord." Yes, you may say, that is what I long to do, but I seem to be unable to separate myself from my burden. However the words, "Cast thy burden upon the Lord," is not an isolated statement, they are coupled with a great promise, "and He shall sustain thee." You may not be able to detach yourself from your burden, but what you can do, is hand over yourself to God, along with your burden and He will sustain both you and it. The burden may still be there but the weight will be gone!
God understands and feels for you, and desires that you will let Him bear not only you but also your burden!
The great apostle Paul obviously, was burdened by what he called, "a thorn in the flesh" to the extent that he prayed three times that it might be removed. God in His infinite wisdom did not grant Paul's request, but enabled him to overcome and he became one of the great Bible heroes. God said: "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Paul's response was: "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in my infirmities .... for when I am weak, then I am strong." (11 Corinthians 12: 9-10) What an attitude!
In most cases, the reasons for our burdens cannot be given in this life, but one day His gracious purposes will be revealed. The believer's hope was summed up by Paul in Romans 8:18. "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
Nothing in this world will so effectively help us to survive, as the knowledge that there is a purpose in our life..
Beethoven was deaf, yet wrote many masterpieces. Handel was lame, Sir Walter Scott was paralyzed, Paul spent all but seven years of his ministry in prison. What gave these people the stamina to overcome their circumstances? They each had a dream, fueled by a fire that could not be extinguished. Their "purpose" and greater than their "problem". God can give you a purpose too, so why not commit your life in faith to Him?
