Psalm 4
How do you turn off your brain?
The moment the lights are turned off, the brain turns on. All of a sudden, everything you haven’t done, your entire to-do list starts running through your mind. You are ashamed of all the moments you waisted that day.
Not satisfied, your brain has more to consider. That stupid thing you said among your colleagues, plays on repeat. You can picture the looks on their faces. Disdain? Frustration? Annoyance? You were sure some rolled their eyes. You imagine what they must have thought about you, what they must be thinking about you, what they might say about you, and how will they react when they see you tomorrow. You can’t stop thinking about it.
Finally as exhaustion sets in, nightmare scenarios start to play out in your mind. It has been a bad month, a tough year, but your brain tells you, things can always be worse. Worries abound in the dark.
As the hours tick away, you even start worrying about the sleep you are missing. I need to sleep you tell yourself. I’m going to be so tired in the morning. How am I going to get anything done? Sleep. I need to sleep. You are very tired, but sleep eludes you. How do you turn off your brain?
We don’t know when David wrote Psalm 4. Perhaps he penned these words when Saul and his brutes had driven him out into the wilderness to hide in caves. He could have been thinking about the last time he sat at Saul’s table. What had he said to make the king so angry? What should he have said instead? What could he have done? What should he do? The spear—maybe that should have been a clue, Saul had a spear at the dinner table—the spear barely missed him, quivering in the wall behind him. What would David’s future hold?
Perhaps he was considering his dysfunctional family. His son had raped his half sister. Her brother avenged her shame and fled. He hadn’t even noticed what was happening until it was too late. His sons did terrible things, where did they learn that? Where did he go wrong? Was it too late? Could he turn them back to the Lord? What would become of his kingdom, his people, when he was gone? He had shed so much blood, was it all for nothing?
Perhaps David was simply feeling the weight of his crown. God’s people depended on him. Young men died because of his orders. He had to make important decisions every day while trying to implement long range plans. People looked to him for courage, for strength and for guidance. He wasn’t up for the task.
Life puts pressure on us. We have responsibilities to uphold. People depend on us. At the same time, others seem determined to pull us down. Many of the dangers, the pressures, we face are completely out of our control. Life is fragile. The world is brutal and unfair. Our balance teeters, and as the pressure builds we might fall. We aren’t up to the tasks we have been given.
David felt the pressure. Again and again he faced evil and tragedy, but he tells us he didn’t lose sleep. He wasn’t sufficient for the challenges of life. He wasn’t strong enough to bear all his burdens. Even as king, so much was outside his control. He knew he didn’t have what it took. He knew God did.
God does. God’s righteous wisdom is in control of your uncontrollable life. He has the strength to lift every burden that pulls you down. He is merciful to you. He has seen your failings, and he forgives you. He listens to your prayers and comes to bring you relief. God never joins his voice with those who tear you down. He will never reject those he loves.
Jesus told his followers, Do not worry…you are more precious than the birds. (Luke 12:24) He proves it to you. God did not become a bird, but Jesus took on human flesh, your flesh, to save you. He carries your sins on his body. He covers your failings with his blood. He raised that human flesh to glory, so that he could make you new. You are God’s craftsmanship, created for good works. (Ephesians 2:10) God has made you sufficient for everything he has given you to do.
So, do as Peter says, Cast all anxiety on him, for he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7) In the same way David, shares how he turned off his brain. God’s love and mercy were David’s joy. God was his peace. David was redeemed and forgiven; every care and trouble was in God’s hands. When your thoughts keep you awake, give those thoughts to God in prayer. Then you can learn how to join David, In complete peace I will lie down and I will sleep, for you, LORD, make me dwell in safety.
IGG