Surrender your burdens to God

I love praying with the psalms for several reasons. First of all, I feel that I am drawing on words that Jesus Christ himself used - he prayed with the psalms! That makes me feel like I am praying alongside him and I already experience peace just because of it. Moreover, I am captivated by the fact that all kinds of emotions are reflected in them: joys and sorrows, celebrations and mourning, hope and bewilderment, anger and serenity, trust and repentance, praise and complaint. It is as if the best listener accompanied me and understood me in every section of my life. 

The Word of God is wonderful, it is truly alive. 

He meditated on Psalm 55, where the sacred writer expresses anguish and begs God for help. He can no longer bear it, one sorrow follows another and he would like to flee, soar like a dove, fly high and find rest. In the denouement there is a call to hand over the burden to God: “Commit all your troubles to the Lord and he will take care of you” (Ps. 55:22).

I was wondering what these words mean: do they mean that when faced with a problem I should stop acting? Or that, with the certainty that I have a Father who loves me, I should do everything that is in my hands, putting in His hands what is not in mine.  

A psalm that comes to life

I had a clear answer when, after my prayer, I received a visit from a good friend who told me the following story: “I separated from my husband. It was a necessary step. A few years ago he lost his job and went to invest in what he considered a good business. It didn't work out and he tried again. Within a couple of years he had lost everything. I did my part and started working because we had to provide for our 4 children. 

My husband's attitude disconcerted me more and more. He was angry with me, blaming me for everything and talking down to me. My husband offended me by insinuating that I was flirting with others. Our arguments were witnessed by our children. I worked myself to exhaustion and received no support from him. When I came home exhausted I found him sleeping, he had changed so much! He was cold, distant, rude, inconsiderate.

The straw that broke the camel's back was an argument we had that was recorded by one of my sons. When I saw myself in that video, I didn't know myself. I saw myself as grotesque as I saw him. I realized that we were hurting each other and hurting our children deeply. 

I sought help, I needed guidance. I was married forever, but not to live this way. I wanted to do God's will but I doubted if I could just put up with all this.  

My pastor gave me bright lights for my discernment. I knew that I had to stop the abuse without destroying my husband, but trying to build the home that God wants for everyone. It was necessary for him to change his behavior and for me to change mine. I proposed to him with a healthy conscience and words of blessing: “Love, we need help. We can't go on like this. Let's go for a marriage where there is love, mutual help, respect and trust. I will do my best because I want to go all the way with you.

His answer: “Do as you wish. I am the way I am, I am not going anywhere”.

Heartbroken, in prayer and with the advice of my pastor, I decided that separation was necessary. He had to realize that his attitude was destroying those he loved the most. I put all my trust in God because I knew that this was a very risky thing to do. I asked him to help me, to save our home. I did what I had to do: set clear boundaries. I looked for a small place to move with my children. I announced my decision and he responded with arrogance. 

I did not cease to pray for him. My faith sustained me. In the meantime, God was weaving a miracle for both of us.

A month after my mother died, he came to the wake and behaved like the most gracious gentleman. He was very kind to me and my children. My family received him with so much affection that he was surprised. He asked me if they knew anything about our situation and I told him that for me it was a very intimate matter, I had not discussed it with them and I did not want it to stay that way. I wanted reconciliation and change for both of us. 

A few days later he offered me marriage counseling. He said he was also interested in a better relationship, offered to do his part. We started a process even though we were still separated. Six months later his father died. Again we gathered as a family to show our support. We were all behaving like the united family we had dreamed of. 

In therapy I understood that his attitude responded to the depression he was going through due to the loss of his job. He did not know how to handle his emotions and disguised them with anger. My response did not help him, but rather worsened his frustration. We both accepted that we had hurt each other, forgave each other and reconciliation came. 

God is wonderful! It is true that He takes care of us when we choose to trust Him and not the world's criteria. I did the right thing and we received a blessing, a blessing much greater than expected! My husband received an inheritance that allowed us to pay off debts and get back the house we had lost.”. 

To put our worries in God's hands is to act correctly, it is to seek God's will in every situation, it is to choose Him and not ourselves, it is to be certain that the good end will come because He loves us.

After listening to her story, I was moved to recognize that she had brought this psalm to life.

“Commit all your cares to the Lord and He will take care of you” (Ps. 55:22).