Peace in a time of Crisis

 Read Psalm 55. 

Someone once said, "Adversity on all sides in one of God's ways of getting our full attention." 

Everyone has experienced what David describes in this Psalm as he pleads for mercy.

-I am restless

-I moan

-My heart is in anguish

-The terrors of death have fallen upon me

-Fear and trembling come upon me

-Horror overwhelms me 

His wish is that he could escape by just flying away to some safe place of peace.  But running from problems only compounds and complicates them.  David is being painfully honest about his feelings, but that does not move him at all from his faith in the LORD.  God will deal with those that caused the problem.  In the meantime... 

1. "Cast your burden on the LORD..." 

Literally, that means to "throw it down".  When someone says, "I cannot handle this", they are correct.  When life is too much for us, it is not too much for Him.  We must cast our dependence on the One is who bigger than our problems.  Our human nature keeps straining to pick them back up. 

2. "...and he will sustain you."

God is more than able to take care of that which concerns us.  He will provide not always what we want but what is needed.   His plans are designed to bring glory to Himself through us.  The process, though painful, is an opportunity for us to grow spiritually and demonstrate to others what true faith in God looks like. 

3. "...he will never permit the righteous to be moved."

The Apostle Paul urged believers to not be anxious about anything but to pray instead.  He wrote that the result would be "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)  When this is true, people will look at us and say, "I do not know how you can be so calm during this crisis."  It won't make sense to them.  That is an open door to share our faith.