We Cast Burdens Through Prayer

The Use of Psalm 55:22 in 1 Peter 5:7

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Real life in a fallen world means we will have burdens. We have things that weigh upon our minds and hearts. There are worries that preoccupy us, and there are anxieties that can keep us up at night.

The psalmists know this. They speak clearly and urgently about the burdens they bear, and they call upon the Lord for help and strength and rescue. In Psalm 55, David is surrounded by enemies who seek his destruction, and the situation is made worse by the fact that he has been betrayed by a close companion (Ps. 55:9–15).

David’s response to his grievous situation is to call upon the Lord (Ps. 55:16). He knows that God will hear him and preserve him (55:17–18). And David knows that the act of prayer is how we bring burdens to the Lord.