“Cast your burdens on the Lord, and He shall sustain you….” Psalm 55:22

A few days ago I was walking down the aisle of our local grocery store as a well dressed mother hurriedly rushed through while dragging along her seven or eight year old son in his grass stained soccer uniform. Mom’s outfit was a very professional, neatly tailored business suit. Not a hair was out of place as her long high heals clacked with each step on the linoleum tile floor. Her son’s soccer cleats were also clacking, but at twice the pace in trying to keep up with his obviously overburdened and late for something mother. With every step there was a scolding. What was said is not worth repeating because it doesn’t really matter. By now you know the drill. Your mother dragged you in a similar scenario, or you, your children. I’ll admit, I’ve been there and done that myself. As we rush about with the pressures of the world bearing down on us it’s so easy to take it out on whoever dares step into our path. The beginning verses of Psalm 55 describe it so well, “Give ear to my prayer Oh God….Attend to me, and hear me. I am restless in my complaint and moan noisily…”  Yes, David, the author of the Psalms, knew how to whine and complain just as well as we do!

We Are Restless In Our Stress,

and yet we don’t have to be. Just a few verses later in the Psalms David get’s it right, “Cast your burdens on the Lord and He shall sustain you.” Of course you are always welcome to continue to live your stressed out life, and yet there is such a better alternative. God invites you to cast your burdens upon Him. Your reward for living out such faith is that He will sustain you! Relief for you is just a childlike prayer away. Today, when I think of childlike faith I’m picturing that little boy in his soccer uniform being dragged down the grocery store aisle. As his mother bellowed her distress, the look on his face was utter calm and amazement at all the pretty colors and goodies lining the store shelves. His face said to me, mom’s stressed, what else is new! But look at all those wonderful, colorful cereal boxes! Stressed out or childlike wonder, the choice is yours! Cast your burdens on the Lord and He will sustain you!