Sustained (Psalm 55:22): Meaning, Reflection and Prayer

What does “Sustained” mean in Psalm 55:22?

David wrote this in a time of betrayal and distress. He tells himself and us to cast the weight onto the LORD, who will sustain and keep the faithful from being shaken.

Going deeper

Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. David wrote these words out of real pain, including the betrayal of a close friend earlier in the psalm. He does not tell us to ignore our burdens. He tells us where to put them. The word sustain means to hold up and to nourish. God does not only take the load. He supports the one who carries it.

A burden may be a worry, a grief, a decision, or a weary responsibility. Name yours to God today, plainly and in detail. Then leave it with Him, and expect Him to sustain you. You may need to repeat it, since we tend to pick our burdens up again. That is all right. Each time you cast it, you are practicing trust. He promises that the faithful will not be utterly shaken, however heavy the weight.