Cast Your Burden upon the LORD — sacred illustration
✶ Our Bible Moments No. 169 / 253

Anxiety & Fear

Cast Your Burden upon the LORD

Psalm 55:22

Psalm 55:22 comes from a psalm of David written in deep distress, after a close friend turned against him: having poured out his anguish, he tells others to cast their burden on the LORD.

Lord, I am carrying more than I can hold. The worry, the hurt and the fear of what comes next, I cast upon You now. You have promised to sustain me. When the weight comes back tonight or tomorrow, I will give it to You again. Hold me up, and do not let me be shaken. Morning, noon and night I call to You, and You hear my voice. Amen.

Psalm 55:22 comes from a psalm of David written in deep distress, after a close friend turned against him: having poured out his anguish, he tells others to cast their burden on the LORD.

The Scripture

“Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.”

— Psalm 55:22

Prayer points from Psalm 55:22

  1. Name the burden you are carrying, out loud if you can.
  2. Cast it on the LORD, and leave it with Him (v. 22).
  3. Ask Him to sustain you and hold you up today (v. 22).
  4. Bring Him any hurt from someone close who has let you down (vv. 12–14).
  5. Ask Him to keep you from being shaken (v. 22).
  6. Call to Him morning, noon and night, and thank Him that He hears your voice (v. 17).

About this verse

Psalm 55 is headed “A Maskil of David,” and it is one of the rawest psalms. David’s heart pounds, fear and trembling grip him, and he wishes he had wings like a dove to fly away and find rest. The worst of it is that the one hurting him is not an enemy but a close friend, someone he once walked with into the house of God (vv. 12–14). David cries out “Morning, noon, and night,” and comes at last to verse 22: “Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.” He doesn’t say the burden disappears; he says God will hold up the one who carries it. Peter says the same to the church: cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). This prayer is for anyone carrying worry, betrayal or a weight too heavy to hold alone.

When to pray this prayer

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