“Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest — I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm” (Psalm 55:6-8 NIV1984).David was deeply distressed when he wrote these words. Enemies were seeking his life. Even worse, he was being betrayed by a “…close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God” (Psalm 55:13-14).
Have we not all felt the same as David? Sadness, sickness, sorrow, hurt, anguish, among others, often send us spiraling downward. Overwhelmed and exhausted, we wish we could escape our problems and find peace and rest. Even the prophet Jeremiah exclaimed: “Oh, that I had in the desert a lodging place for travelers, so that I might leave my people and go away from them…a crowd of unfaithful people” (Jer. 9:2).
Doves are small birds with long wings that enable them to fly strongly and quickly. When threatened by predators, they take flight to hide safely in dense tree branches, building structures, or lofty cliffs. Doves also symbolize peace, love, hope, purity, and new beginnings. We see a dove being sent out from Noah after the destruction of the earth; the Holy Spirit in the likeness of a dove descended on Jesus at His baptism. These characteristics that David desired are found in a dove.
Even though David was doing wishful thinking, he knew that hiding from his troubles was not the answer. They would follow him wherever he went. His “place of shelter” was not in the desert but rather in God. For that reason, he said, “But I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning, and noon I cry out in my distress, and he hears my voice” (Psalm 55:16-17).
Many people who feel like they are at a “breaking point” and need to get away often go to a beach. Others claim the mountains are where they can rest and relax. Some just want to take a vacation anywhere to escape the stress of work and everyday living. While it does renew the spirit, ease the mind, and refresh the body, returning to reality finds the same problems awaiting. You may be able to put them out of your mind for a short while, but they have not disappeared. Like David, the answer is not to run away from troubles but to bring all your worries and conflicts to God.
That is why David wrote these comforting words: “Cast your cares on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall” (Psalm 55:22). Our lives can never become so overwhelming that we cannot go to the Lord in prayer.
God is our shelter and refuge in times of trouble. “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1).As comforting as having the wings of a dove might be to take you far away from an unforgiving world, nothing excels more than the promise that God “will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart” (Psalm 91:4).You and I don’t have to go far away to find Jesus. He said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).
One day, our troubles will be over, and we will find everlasting shelter in Heaven with our Lord and Savior. What a flight that will be!
