"Cast your cares on the Lord, and He will sustain you." Psalm 55:22

The psalmist is referring to burdens on the heart, not on the back. We all know that mental burdens are worse than physical, and spiritual burdens are worse than both. These words, however, open up a golden opportunity to do something with our burdens.

We should know that burdens are inescapable. They come to high and low, rich and poor, saints and sinners, old and young. We can no more dodge them than we can fly by waving our arms.

Burdens bring temptations. We are tempted to think God is unconcerned. We are tempted to sit in the brew of self-pity. We are tempted to become bitter toward life and people.

David advises us to "cast your cares on the Lord, and He will sustain you." We notice that the first part of this passage is coupled with a promise, namely, "and He will sustain you." This is the key to the understanding of the first part of the sentence. Our Lord promises to sustain us. The burden may still remain, but the weight, the drag, the bitterness, will be gone. So it was in the life of the apostle Paul, who complained of his burden, but the Lord said: "My grace is sufficient for you" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

PRAYER: Lord, keep us from becoming embittered under the burdens of life. For Jesus' sake strengthen and support us day by day. Amen.

(Taken from "Words of Promise," copyright 1996 (out of print), Concordia Publishing House. For information on other devotional materials, call 1-800-325-3040.)

Today's Bible Readings: Isaiah 17-19    Ephesians 4

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