How wonderful would it be if, when we are feeling anxious, we were able to reach into our hearts, grasp ahold of our anxiety, remove it, and throw it away? Better yet, give that anxiety to Someone who could deal with the problem? That, in effect, is what Peter is telling us to do in 1 Peter 5:7 and it is what David is telling us to do in Psalm 55. Let’s study the text…
GIVE AWAY YOUR ANXIETY WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE COMPLAINING – 55:1-3:
Observe here that David feels anxiety because of his enemy, pressure from the wicked (ver. 3). They bring some kind of trouble down on him. They are angry at him. They hold a grudge against him. And he feels like complaining (ver. 2). These troubles, for David, have caused a distraction. He is not focused on God and on the good as he should.
When you feel like complaining, give away your anxiety.
GIVE AWAY YOUR ANXIETY WHEN YOUR HEART IS ANGUISHED – 55:4-8:
Observe the emotions David feels in this paragraph. He mentions “anguish” in his heart, terrors of death (so he’s afraid of dying), fear and trembling and horror (ver. 5). In fact, he says that he is “overwhelmed” in horror!
We need to give away our anxiety when our heart is anguished.
GIVE AWAY YOUR ANXIETY WHEN YOU ARE TROUBLED BY SIN – 55:9-11:
Notice here what causes David’s anxiety… Violence and strife in the city (ver. 9). Iniquity and mischief (ver. 10). People who are destructive as well as oppression and deceit (ver. 11).
When sin troubles you – whether your own sin or the sins of others – give away your anxiety.
GIVE AWAY YOUR ANXIETY WHEN YOUR FRIENDS BECOME “ENEMIES” – 55:12-15:
When I was in junior high school, my best friend was named Darren. But also when I was in junior high school, the person who aggravated me the most and disrespected my spirituality the most was also named Darren. They were the same people. When you expect friends to support you and then they don’t, it causes anxiety.
When your friends become your enemy, you’ve got to give away your anxiety.
GIVE AWAY YOUR ANXIETY IN PRAYER TO GOD – 55:16-21:
Certainly David has mentioned praying to God in verses 1-2. He brings it up again in verse 16 – “As for me…” He knows that God will save him. David’s trust is in the God who delivers. Notice in verse 17 that David mentions praying three times a day – just like Daniel does in 6:10 – evening, morning, and at noon. We don’t know if David is talking about praying at his meals, but that’s a good time to pray to God, just pray to help God get you through the next few hours. Sometimes that’s what we need to do to deal with our anxiety, just get through the next four hours. We don’t need to try to endure the challenges of life all at one time, just one hour at a time. David is confident – verse 17 – that God will hear his voice.
To give away your anxiety, pray to God.
GIVE AWAY YOUR ANXIETY AS YOU TRUST GOD TO SUSTAIN YOU – 55:22-23:
David then – as he nearly always did – turns his attention to his people and speaks directly to them: “Give your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you.” Pray to God. God will never allow the righteous to be shaken. He has the ability to stabilize our faith and strengthen our hearts. If our faith is not stabilized or our hearts feel weak, it is because we are not spending time with God and His word.
Give your anxiety away, giving it to God, and trust that He will sustain you.
Paul Holland
