Read: Psalm 55
Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. (v. 6)
I’ve often looked with envy at birds, freely soaring above treetops. Wouldn’t it be refreshing to escape life’s noise and distractions and view everything from a distant perspective? In the sky we’d find safety, peace, contentment. I experienced the sensation of being a bird once in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, when I went for a tandem paraglide ride. After controlling my motion-sickness, I was able to relax and enjoy the absolute quiet and beauty as we soared above snowy slopes.
But David, the author of this psalm, didn’t merely want a reprieve or an adventure. Enemies were after him. His life was in danger. Fear overwhelmed him because of another’s betrayal and violence. “But I call to God,” he declared, “and the LORD will save me” (v. 16). David knew he couldn’t simply fly away, but he also knew that God would take care of him: “Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you” (v. 22).
If you are in a challenging situation that makes you want to “fly away,” know that God hears when you call and longs to be near you. Imagine yourself soaring on his loving and protective wings. I wasn’t airborne very long on that exhilarating ride over the mountains, but for a brief time, I knew the awe of a bird in flight. Say with the psalmist, “I will trust in you” (v. 23), and experience a peaceful reprieve without having to fly away. —Denise Vredevoogd
As you pray, ask God to lift you above troubling circumstances and provide rest.
About the Author
Denise Vredevoogd is a private piano teacher who lives near Grand Rapids, Michigan. She enjoys reading, writing, gardening, and spending time in nature with her adult sons and daughters.
