Wanna Get Away?

Remember the old Southwest Airlines commercials featuring someone caught in an awkward moment or making an embarrassing social blunder that ended with the slogan, “Wanna Get away?”

The Psalmist didn’t have SWA, but during difficult times he wanted to get away and opined in Psalm 55:6 “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.

Have you ever felt that way?

Then welcome to the club.

I would suggest you take a little extra time before reading this post to read Psalm 55. Then consider these three questions. Who was speaking? Why did he feel this way? What did he do about it?

Who wants to get away?

David is the author of this Psalm. Here was a man identified as “a man after God’s own heart.” He was chosen to be king while still a teenager. As a Shepherd boy he killed a lion and a bear with his bare hands. He slew the giant, Goliath. He was the sweet singer of Israel. And was chosen to be in the linage of Jesus Christ.

Yet, he was hurting. His “heart was severely pained.” He groaned. Felt fear. Trembled. Was overwhelmed by horror. And wanted to fly away from it all.

The fact is righteous people suffer. Christians are not exempt from problems, pain, and sorrow. Has your heart been broken? Is your spirit
crushed? Is your soul filled with sorrow? Do you feel physically, mentally and emotionally drained by something that’s pressing you down?

Why was he hurting?

Psalm 55 was probably penned when a dark cloud hung over the nation of Israel. There was anarchy. Revolt. And turmoil. God’s people were disturbed, disrupted and disquieted. And King David felt impotent to quell the rebellion.

Why?

David’s own son, Absalom, was leading the rebellion against the nation and his very own father. David was suffering the consequences of his sin with Bathsheba when God told him through the prophet, “I will raise up adversity against you from your own house” (2 Sam. 12:11).

Today, we look at the problems in our country and even around the world that are depressing. COVID-19. Rioting. Looting. Anarchy. Rampant violence in our major cities. Racial unrest. And political turmoil.

Our spirits are often crushed by problems in our own homes. Martial discord. Contention. Strife. And anger. Disobedient children. And families ripped apart by divorce.

Too often we see churches that are divided. Sometimes over silly and petty problems that divert our attention from more pressing issues. It’s discouraging and emotionally draining.

Honesty, however, calls for us to look within our own lives. We may feel the heavy weight of sin. Sin hurts. It cuts the conscience. Breaks the heart. And wounds the soul. No wonder it’s referred to in the Bible as bondage and a burden.

Wanna get away?

What to do about it?

David wished he had the wings of a dove to fly away and find rest. But he didn’t. And neither do you and I.

What David did, is what you and I need to do when our heart is sorely pained and we wanna get away.

1. Be honest about your feelings.

David looked within his heart and admitted his hurt. He looked around at his circumstances and acknowledged the problems. He was not in denial.

We can never solve our problems or heal our pain if we bury our heads in the proverbial sand of denial. Be honest. Admit your pain. Accept the problem. And then look for the answer.

2. Call upon the Lord.

David knew where to turn (Ps. 55:16-17). David prayed. He cried aloud to God. Morning. Noon. And evening.

What about you? Are you praying for help? Direction? Wisdom?

3. Cast your burden upon the Lord

While David’s burdens were great, they were not too big for the Lord to handle. He gave up the emotional weight he was carrying and gave it to God. (V. 22).

The title of Albert Cliff’s little book, “Let Go and Let God” says it all. It’s hard to do. It requires a mental and emotional release. But it’s what we must learn to do.

4. Trust in the Lord.

Finally, David realized he couldn’t rely upon human intervention. He couldn’t even trust his own son. But he could trust God. (V. 23).

Wanna get away?

You don’t have the wings of a dove. But you have God’s promise to provide protection and the provisions you need to find peace of mind and healing for a hurting heart.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman