When You Feel Like Escaping
“Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.” Psalm 55:6
Life can sometimes feel like an unbearable weight. The pressures of work, relationships, health, or unfulfilled dreams can pile up, leaving us longing to escape. In Psalm 55, David gives voice to this deep human desire of fleeing from hardship, to “fly away and be at rest.” His cry is raw, honest, and relatable. When life gets so hard that we just want to run, what do we do? David’s journey in this psalm offers a path forward—not to escape, but to endure through lament, surrender, and worship.
David begins in a place of anguish. Betrayed by a friend and overwhelmed by enemies, he yearns for the wings of a dove to soar far from his troubles. Charles Spurgeon captures the intensity of this longing, noting, “We are all too apt to utter this vain desire, for vain it is; no wings of doves or eagles could bear us away from the sorrows of a trembling heart.”
Spurgeon reminds us that running away is a fleeting fantasy—our troubles often follow us. Yet, David doesn’t stay in despair. David wanted to simply escape, but he did not. As Alexander Maclaren observes: “So the psalmist’s wish was but a wish; and he, like the rest of us, had to stand to his post, or be tied to his stake, and let enemies and storms do their worst.” David’s example shows us that while the desire to flee is real, standing firm with God’s help is possible.
When life feels too heavy, our first instinct might be to numb the pain—scrolling through social media, binge-watching shows, or venting to friends. But David shows us a better way: don’t open Instagram or TikTok, open the Bible and seek God’s face. Lament before God, as David did. Be honest about your pain, your fears, your desire to run. Spurgeon beautifully observes God’s patience with our complaints: “He can bear with us when in our weak and willful moments we would fain take the wings of the wind and flee from our appointed place and work. He does not upbraid us for our folly, but pities us and helps us to better things.” God is not offended by our raw emotions; He draws near when we bring them to Him.
Lament, however, is not the end. David models the next step. In verse 22, he declares, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” This act of surrender is not passive; it’s an intentional choice to hand over our worries to God.
In his commentary, Spurgeon quotes William Jay’s powerful insight: “An old writer tells us it would have been more honorable for him to have asked for the strength of an ox to bear his trials, than for the wings of a dove to flee from them.” Drawing from this wisdom, Spurgeon, prayed, “I would, my God, like thy servant David, ask of thee strength to bear my burden, even as an ox bears the yoke—not wings to fly away from it, but power to sustain it, that I may be faithful to my calling and true to my trust.” This image of an ox’s steady endurance urges us to seek God’s strength to carry our burdens rather than escape them.
Finally, David’s lament turns to worship. By the end of Psalm 55, he is no longer focused on his desire to flee but on God’s faithfulness. He affirms, “But I will trust in you” (v. 23). This shift is powerful: fear turns to faith when worry turns to worship. When we pour out our complaints and surrender our burdens, we make space for God to renew our perspective. Worship reorients our hearts, reminding us that God is bigger than our troubles and faithful to sustain us.
So, when you’re tempted to run away, follow David’s example. Cry out to God with honesty—He can handle your complaints. Cast your burdens on Him, trusting He will sustain you. And lift your eyes in worship, letting praise transform your perspective. God doesn’t give us wings to escape, but the strength to stand firm. In His presence, we find rest—not by flying away, but by drawing near.
Life can sometimes feel like an unbearable weight. The pressures of work, relationships, health, or unfulfilled dreams can pile up, leaving us longing to escape. In Psalm 55, David gives voice to this deep human desire of fleeing from hardship, to “fly away and be at rest.” His cry is raw, honest, and relatable. When life gets so hard that we just want to run, what do we do? David’s journey in this psalm offers a path forward—not to escape, but to endure through lament, surrender, and worship.
David begins in a place of anguish. Betrayed by a friend and overwhelmed by enemies, he yearns for the wings of a dove to soar far from his troubles. Charles Spurgeon captures the intensity of this longing, noting, “We are all too apt to utter this vain desire, for vain it is; no wings of doves or eagles could bear us away from the sorrows of a trembling heart.”
Spurgeon reminds us that running away is a fleeting fantasy—our troubles often follow us. Yet, David doesn’t stay in despair. David wanted to simply escape, but he did not. As Alexander Maclaren observes: “So the psalmist’s wish was but a wish; and he, like the rest of us, had to stand to his post, or be tied to his stake, and let enemies and storms do their worst.” David’s example shows us that while the desire to flee is real, standing firm with God’s help is possible.
When life feels too heavy, our first instinct might be to numb the pain—scrolling through social media, binge-watching shows, or venting to friends. But David shows us a better way: don’t open Instagram or TikTok, open the Bible and seek God’s face. Lament before God, as David did. Be honest about your pain, your fears, your desire to run. Spurgeon beautifully observes God’s patience with our complaints: “He can bear with us when in our weak and willful moments we would fain take the wings of the wind and flee from our appointed place and work. He does not upbraid us for our folly, but pities us and helps us to better things.” God is not offended by our raw emotions; He draws near when we bring them to Him.
Lament, however, is not the end. David models the next step. In verse 22, he declares, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” This act of surrender is not passive; it’s an intentional choice to hand over our worries to God.
In his commentary, Spurgeon quotes William Jay’s powerful insight: “An old writer tells us it would have been more honorable for him to have asked for the strength of an ox to bear his trials, than for the wings of a dove to flee from them.” Drawing from this wisdom, Spurgeon, prayed, “I would, my God, like thy servant David, ask of thee strength to bear my burden, even as an ox bears the yoke—not wings to fly away from it, but power to sustain it, that I may be faithful to my calling and true to my trust.” This image of an ox’s steady endurance urges us to seek God’s strength to carry our burdens rather than escape them.
Finally, David’s lament turns to worship. By the end of Psalm 55, he is no longer focused on his desire to flee but on God’s faithfulness. He affirms, “But I will trust in you” (v. 23). This shift is powerful: fear turns to faith when worry turns to worship. When we pour out our complaints and surrender our burdens, we make space for God to renew our perspective. Worship reorients our hearts, reminding us that God is bigger than our troubles and faithful to sustain us.
So, when you’re tempted to run away, follow David’s example. Cry out to God with honesty—He can handle your complaints. Cast your burdens on Him, trusting He will sustain you. And lift your eyes in worship, letting praise transform your perspective. God doesn’t give us wings to escape, but the strength to stand firm. In His presence, we find rest—not by flying away, but by drawing near.