There’s this feeling that I get sometimes. It feels like pressure. A weight bearing down right on the back of my neck and it trails off into my shoulders. It’s a stinging and burning that comes from bearing a heavy load. You know what I’m talking about?
It’s like your whole world is just resting right on top of you and if you make one false move, everything will just topple. Kind of like King Louie holding the Monkey Palace up on the old Jungle Book cartoon. This one:
There are lots of things that can do this to us, but stress is the common denominator. It brings worry and all sorts of mess that can really jack you up. I know this all to well…because I’m a fixer.
I see a problem and I try to fix it. It becomes my responsibility to remedy the situation, in my mind of course. By having this mindset, I add a whole bunch of unnecessary weight to my shoulders; therefore, adding unnecessary stress.
Roughly a month ago, I developed an oh-so awesome case of the shingles, which is brought on by stress and lack of rest. Numerous things were happening that caused this: a new baby, a rough doctor’s diagnosis for the Wildman, other family shenanigans, and the list just keeps on going.
The shingles eventually went away with meds and reduced stress, but in the back of my mind…it lingered. I thought I let go of things, but I really didn’t. But today, when I accidentally hit play on my iTunes, things made sense.
This song came up. It’s a worship song by Hope Church . The words hit hard and it made me look at the whole chapter of Psalms 55. Look it up here and let’s go through it.
Basically, David is having a rough go of it. It seems like nothing can go right. He says things like, “My enemies shout at me (v.3)” and “Fear and trembling overwhelm me and I can’t stop shaking (v.5)”. He’s facing some major hate from all sides.
Following a few more verses of despair and stress, verses 16-22 tell a new story. It turns from despair, to hope and trust.
“I call to God; GOD will help me. At dusk, dawn, and noon I sigh deep sighs—he hears, he rescues. My life is well and whole, secure in the middle of danger Even while thousands are lined up against me. God hears it all, and from his judge’s bench puts them in their place.”
David trusts that God is gonna have his back. He knows that if he just calls into Him, things are gonna be okay.
Like in verse 22, it says, “Pile your troubles on GOD ’s shoulders— he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out. He’ll never let good people topple into ruin.”
How many times have we decided to take it all on our shoulders? Tried to carry the load ourselves? Everyone has! Has it ever worked? Probably not.
I know it’s easy to just say, “give it to God,” and sometimes we get caught up in it. But that is the honest truth. God is right there, waiting for you to reach out for help. He wants to just take all of that worry and stress right off of you. We just have to call out to Him.
In 2 Thessalonians 3:3 it says, “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” With that, and numerous other verses on how God is faithful to His word, why wouldn’t He come and shoulder our burdens?
It is my prayer for you that you take this, read it, and apply it to your life. Thanks for reading. You like it, share it to help encourage others!
Y’all be safe out there.
Anything Worth Saying 