Psalm 55: 7
I say, "If only I had wings like a dove that I might fly away and find rest."
Remember the scene in Forrest Gump where little Jenny & Forrest run into the fields and pray? Jenny was being yelled at by her abusive father as he pursued her with a drink in his hand. She grabs Forrest's hand, falls to her knees in the middle of the stalks of corn and leads them in prayer, "Dear God, make me a bird so I can fly far, far, far away from here." I can hear her sweet tiny southern accent now. And how about that! Jenny had memorized Psalm 55!
Have you ever wanted to just get out of a situation? A bad job, a friendship that has turned sour, the end of the school year? Even something like a dinner with in-laws can bring us to the point of wanting to get outta dodge. Other times, it's a bigger stress, like seeing the ways of the world and wanting to not have to deal with them. Both Jenny & David prayed for escape, but more than that, they cast their cares on the Lord (vs 23).
When you want out, where do you turn? There are a lot of ways to escape - some healthy (exercise, a chat with a friend, laying in a hammock on the beach) and some dangerous (abusing drugs or alcohol, binging on food, over spending). Do you turn to God first? Ever? Sometimes I'm amazed by how long it takes me to pray when I'm feeling anxious, stressed or uncomfortable. Why do I wait to cast my cares upon him? Why do I try everything else under the sun before I go to the one who created it? Next time you need to find rest, mentally or physically, think about Jenny or David and pray this prayer, not just of yearning, but of trusting that God will swoop in and carry you.
