Burdens are heavy to carry, even when, and especially when they are imagined.
Listen to David asking God not to hide 1 “Do not hide yourself from my supplication.”
You know, when you’ve walked with the Lord for some time, there’s got to be moments in your recollection when God seemed not to bother, or at least, not to be bothered about you, seemingly not inclined to take on your concerns, even when you have cause to complain. And that can be troublesome, because we let things trouble us. Hear him again. 2 Attend to me, and answer me; I am troubled in my complaint. I am 3distraught by the noise of the enemy because of the clamour of the wicked. For they bring trouble upon me, and in anger they cherish enmity against me.”
When will we learn? When will we expect that “the wicked” will do wicked things. And even as I write this, I am haunted by the memory of evils past and present, and how I can’t let go of the question why would people want to be so mean to others. But, really, when the meanness is towards me, I am r=learning to destress. I am getting older and somewhat wiser. I have come to observe that the wicked don’t win. They seem to be having their way, only for a while. They don’t love themselves, wicked people, and if nothing is done about them (call it injustice) they are going tom self-disrupt and self-destroy anyway. After they have troubled innocent people, they turn on themselves, as if that will convert to justice.
So Mister Psalmist, You do have wings. Don’t wish, “O that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.” Fond your cool rest right in the heat. Find your peace right in the storm.
I know, when it’s your friend rather than the enemy who taunts you it’s harder to bear. Don’t pray death upon them 15 in their homes and in their hearts. It’s already in their hearts. Pity the homes where agents of death make their dwelling place. Their poor beneficiaries face suffering of someone else’s making.
So, just utter your complaint anyway. 19 God who is enthroned of old will hear.
Smooth butter tongue traitors are for real, but they also do not have the last say. Truth always wins out. Faithfulness endures, Have faith and live. And love- even your enemy.
Don’t carry that burden any longer. Ease yourself. Lighten your load. Cast it on the Lord who will not only sustain you, but strengthen you to sustain another, maybe even that crook of a friend!