"Throw your burden on the Lord"

[Psalm 55]

The world we live in gradually imposes heavy burdens on our hearts. This world offers us nothing but worries, anxieties, sorrow, and pain. Yet, as believers, we experience peace even while living in this world. We live by continually casting our heavy burdens before the Lord, and in doing so, we enjoy the peace He gives, a peace that is absent in this world. If we are not experiencing the peace the Lord provides, the reason may be that we are not effectively laying down our burdens at the foot of the cross. In Pastor Lee Yong-kyu's book "Letting Go", it says: "Satan, who rules this world, constantly tempts us to hold on to things, to cling to them." I agree with this. Satan's work continuously tempts us with the urge to "hold on tightly." Among the burdens Satan wants us to hold onto are "the burdens of the past," along with the wounds, pains, sufferings, and anxieties that weigh on our hearts. However, the apostle Peter says to us: "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7). Our God is a God who cares for us. He loves us so much that His thoughts towards us outnumber the grains of sand (Psalm 139:17-18). Because He loves us, He cares for us, and just as Peter urges, we must cast all our worries on the Lord. We should not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:34).

In Psalm 55:22, the Bible gives us this encouragement: "Cast your cares on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken." Today, I pray that through this verse, we may receive the grace that God wants to give us under the theme, "Cast your burden on the Lord."

First, what was David’s burden?

We can consider it from two perspectives:

(1) David's burden was anxiety.

Look at the second half of Psalm 55:2: "... I am restless and distraught because of the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked." The word "anxiety" here comes from the Hebrew word meaning "a thicket" or "bush." Dr. Park Yun-seon explains that anxiety is a result of a complicated and confused mind, much like a dense thicket or thornbush. Why was David anxious? The answer is in verse 3: "Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked; for they bring down trouble upon me, and in wrath they hate me." David was anxious because of the oppression and persecution from his enemies. Everyone has experienced anxiety at some point in life. The famous British playwright William Shakespeare said, "Anxiety is the enemy of life." As long as anxiety persists, a person cannot be happy or enjoy life. Anxiety harms one's health, shortens life, and prevents a person from focusing on new creative endeavors. The measure of happiness is not in wealth, but in the strength to overcome anxiety. A poor life lived without anxiety is more valuable than a wealthy life buried under worry. Aesop, in his well-known fable, said, "A slice of bread eaten in peace is better than a feast eaten in anxiety" (Internet).

(2) David's burden was severe emotional distress.

Look at verse 4 of today’s passage, Psalm 55: “My heart is severely pained within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.” David's heart was not only deeply pained due to the oppression and persecution of his enemies, but he also felt that his life was in danger. Therefore, David confessed, “Fear and trembling have come upon me, and horror has overwhelmed me” (v. 5). He wished that if he had wings like a dove, he could fly away to a distant wilderness and rest in peace (v. 6). In other words, David's burden was so heavy that he longed to escape his current situation. He saw violence and strife in the city, and he was deeply distressed due to sin, corruption, wickedness, oppression, and deceit (vv. 10-11). Furthermore, the reason for the deep pain in his heart was the betrayal of a close friend. Look at verses 12-13 of Psalm 55: “For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; then I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me; then I could hide from him. But it was you, a man my equal, my companion, and my acquaintance.” David’s deepest wound came from being betrayed by a close friend, someone with whom he had walked in fellowship and communion in the Lord, sharing joyful conversations (v. 14). This close friend, one with whom David had been at peace, struck him and broke the covenant they had made (v. 20). The friend's mouth was smoother than butter, yet his heart was at war; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords (v. 21).

Second, how can we cast our burdens upon God?

David cast his burdens upon God through prayer. Look at verses 1-2 of today’s passage, Psalm 55: “Give ear to my prayer, O God, and do not hide Yourself from my supplication. Attend to me and hear me; I am restless in my complaint and moan noisily.” David cast all his heavy burdens upon God through prayer. Even the anguish in his heart, caused by his own worries and the evil and sinful circumstances he found himself in, he also cast upon the Lord in prayer. In particular, he cast his pain from the betrayal of a close friend upon the Lord through prayer. Why did David cast all his burdens upon God through prayer? The reason was that David believed only God could save him. Look at verses 16-17: “As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me. Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.” David set aside specific times to pray three times a day—morning, noon, and evening—pouring out his concerns, suffering, and pain before the Lord. The reason for this was that David was certain that only the Lord was his Savior.

Prayer is an expression of reliance on God. In other words, those who rely on God pray. The psalmist David, in his heavy burden, worries, and deep emotional distress, entrusted everything to God through prayer (verse 23). Likewise, we must entrust all our heavy burdens to God through prayer, relying on Him.

“If you have worries in your heart, bring them all to Jesus, even when you are sad, bring them to Jesus” (verse 1); “Bring everything to Jesus, for He is our friend; do not worry, bring it all to Jesus” (chorus) (Hymn 484, verse 1 and chorus).

Finally, thirdly, what happens when we entrust our burdens to God?

When we entrust all our burdens to God through prayer, God gives us two blessings:

(1) God will sustain us.

Look at today's passage, Psalm 55:22: "Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you..." In the Psalm we meditated on last Wednesday, Psalm 54, David confessed: "God is my helper; the Lord is with those who uphold my life" (verse 4). David, in the current threat and crisis, remembered how God had delivered him from past troubles and was confident in God’s help. In today's passage, Psalm 55, David, remembering God’s grace of salvation in the past, was sure that when he entrusted all his heavy burdens to God, He would sustain him. Moreover, he experienced the peace that God gives (verse 18). Those who cast all their burdens on God through prayer, trusting in Him, will experience peace because He sustains them.

(2) God will not allow us to be shaken.

Now, look at the second part of Psalm 55:22: "... He will never allow the righteous to be shaken." When we entrust all our burdens to God through prayer, God listens to our prayers, sustains us, and does not allow us to be shaken. However, the wicked, who do not fear God and do not repent of their evil ways, will face God's judgment (verse 19) and fall into the pit of destruction (verse 23). Those who trust in God will not be shaken (Psalm 21:7).

One of the hymns I love to sing is Hymn 363, “My burdens, all my trials”:
"When I bring all my trials, all my heavy burdens to Jesus,
And I look back at my troubled days, He takes all my worries away…"

This hymn was written by Pastor Elisha Hoffman. One day, a believer who was going through great trials came to Pastor Hoffman and cried out, "What should I do? What should I do in my worries?" Pastor Hoffman listened to the believer’s complaints for a long time and then prayed earnestly, asking the Lord to work in the believer’s heart with comfort. After the prayer, the believer’s face brightened, and they confessed, "Yes, I should not carry this heavy burden alone. I must give it to Jesus." After the believer left, Pastor Hoffman was suddenly inspired, picked up his pen, and began writing this hymn:
"When I cannot carry my heavy burdens alone,
And I am about to fall from the weight,
The merciful Lord, only Jesus, will come to save me..."
And that is how Hymn 363 was born.

I have a special memory connected to this hymn. Last October, when I went to Beijing to visit my father, and just as the police and authorities barged into the room, I was in the prayer meeting early in the morning. I could hear my father singing this hymn with strength. That day, God provided a way of escape for my father, and I was able to return safely to Korea, later traveling back to the U.S. without incident. Truly, our God is the one who bears all our heavy burdens. When we are struggling with worry, anxiety, and emotional pain, if we rely on God and give all our burdens to Him through prayer, He is the God who rescues (saves) us. He holds us, grants us peace, and makes us firm, so we are not shaken. Let us give all our heavy burdens to this God.

Let us live, experiencing the grace of salvation of Jesus Christ, who carried all the burdens of our sins on the cross.

Pastor James Kim
(Sharing with the Lord as I entrust all my burdens to Him in prayer)