"Oh that I had wings like a dove for then I would I fly away and be at rest" (Psalm 55:6).
Absalom, David's third son, by Maacah, led a rebellion against David. King David was forced to leave his beloved Jerusalem in order for it not to be destroyed. As he left his city, he walked up the road that led to the Mount of Olives. He wept as he left. His head was covered and his feet were bare as a sign of mourning. Then someone told him that Ahithophel, a member of his cabinet, more importantly, one of David's most trusted advisers, and close friend, had betrayed him. Ahithophel had gone over to the side of Absalom (2 Samuel 15:13-32).
What a betrayal! David received a double betrayal, first his son, then his closest friend. Betrayal feels like someone have stabbed you in the back. Betrayal is a breach of trust and that trust you gave them, they decided that you were not worth keeping that trust. It is one of the most painful experiences in life. One of the worst kinds of pain.
Betrayal feels like a crushing blow to the head. From the first blow, you become dazed and confused. The saddest thing about betrayal, it never comes from your enemies. You only can be betrayed by someone you trust, like a friend, a family member, or a love one.
Listen to David description of his pain, "For it was not an enemy who reproaches and taunts me -- then I might bear it; nor is it one who has hated me who insolently vaunts himself against me -- then I might hide from him. But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my familiar friend. We had sweet fellowship together and used to walk to the house of God in company" (Psalm 55:12-14).
Betrayal is not the only heartache we will experience in life that makes us want wings to fly away. There will be many difficult life situations that makes us want to take wings and fly away, or run and hide, steal away, head for the hills, fly the coop, hightail-it, take to the woods, and runaway; such as breakups, losing a job, failures, sickness, injuries, the loss of a love one.
Have you ever found yourself wishing you had wings to fly away to avoid that situation that is causing you so much pain? There have been a few, very painful situations in my life, that I wished I could have sprouted wings, to fly away from. But even if we could leave that situation behind us physically, in most cases, we couldn't leave it behind us, mentally.
Those wings that we seek to fly away on, instead of us wanting to literally run from life's troubles, we can place those problems on the wings of God, by turning them over to Him. Sometimes we forget that God has given us a Counselor, Helper, and Comforter, and He lives within us. He is the Holy Spirit who helps us, encourages us, comforts us, and strengthens us.
We all have circumstances that causes us duress. When you feel like flying away, or powerless, or tired, God is there with you and you are never alone. The Holy Spirit is there to help you. He is the Source that has the power to sustain you, energize you, and to renew you. He can take all of your problems and place them on wings, to fly away. Then He will place you on the wings of an eagle, refreshed, and with renewed strength. How do I know? He told us in Isaiah 40:29-31, "He gives power to the tired and worn out, and strength to the weak. Even the youths shall be exhausted, and the young men will all give up. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
We must remember that the Lord is always near us. We should never be anxious about anything. I know this is easier said than done, but it is true. Anxiousness is always an unwanted guest in our lives, but by trusting God in everything, you can always get your unwanted guest (anxious) out of your life. How? Go to God in prayer and leave your troubles there, then trust Him, rest in Him. He will provide you with His peace, that goes beyond our understanding. He promised to guard our minds and hearts. "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs and don't forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).