WISHING FOR WINGS

And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.–Psalm 55:6   Have you ever wished that you could just fly away, just get away from it all? Sure you have, we all have. Even great people like David have felt that way. He wanted to put as much distance as possible between himself and his hardships. He said,”Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.”(Ps.55:7). However, before his song ended, he regained his equilibrium and said,”Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”(Ps. 55:22)   The Hebrew word translated “burden” means,”lot (that which is given)”, as we say,”Our lot in life”. As you know, life isn’t always fun and easy (see Phil.1:29), and we might wish for wings so we could escape, but God is able to sustain us. He even uses these trials like wings, encouraging us and enabling us to fly to Him for relief. Instead of being crushed by the heavy load of our burden, our burdens give us wings which carry us to God where we find the sweet relief we’ve been looking for.   As Miss Mary Butterfield wrote many long years ago: “Oh, paradox of Heaven. The load We think will crush was sent to lift us Up to God! Then, soul of mine, Climb up! for naught can e’er be crushed Save what is underneath the weight. How may we climb! By what ascent Shall we surmount the carping cares Of life! Within His word is found The key which opens His secret stairs; Alone with Christ, secluded there, We mount our loads, and rest in Him.”