Last Tuesday the promise on my World Challenge calendar was Psalm 50:15. Picking up my pen, I journaled the forty-year-old memory it brought back. As a child, our blond, blue-eyed son, Robbie, had a serious problem with eczema on the back of his knees. Eventually, we ran out of the very expensive ointment our doctor had prescribed and money was tight. Donn and I were just learning the basics of claiming God’s promises and seriously praying for healing, so although our default mode was to call the doctor, I told Donn I thought we should pray first.

That night as we prepared to have our devotional time together, Donn picked up our Living Bible and said, “Give me a number between one and a hundred.” Baffled, I stared at him but he didn’t elaborate. “Fifty,” I replied. He turned to the fiftieth Psalm and began to read. Verse 15 was in italics: I want you to trust me in your times of trouble, so I can rescue you and you can give me glory.

“That’s it,” I exclaimed, “that’s our promise to claim for Robbie’s eczema!” Our son was already in bed, but the next day, Donn and I laid hands on him and prayed, claiming Psalm 50:15 for the healing of his skin condition. It was not an instantaneous miracle but day by day it improved, and within a few weeks, the irritated skin was completely healthy.

I needed to be reminded of that promise last week and I meditated on the NIV rendering: Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver you and you will honor me. There were many situations in many arenas that troubled me, so I wrote in my journal, “I’m calling on you, Father, for every situation that troubles me.” Then I listed them.

When I finished, I turned to the next scripture reference that accompanied the In Touch devotional I use: John 14:26-27. Again the verses were familiar: Peace I leave with you…Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] (Amplified) I asked God to help me choose His peace and choose not to be troubled or afraid.

The week went on and Saturday night I slept little. In the dark hours, I began to worry about all the situations I’d called on God about, plus a few more. So like the children of Israel, I forgot all of the deliverances and miracles of the past and all the promises we’ve claimed. I felt miserable and impotent as I focused on the issues that troubled me.

Sunday afternoon I picked up our electronic tablet, opened a book,* and looked at the title of the next chapter, “Giving Your Troubles to God.” You’d think that might have jogged my memory but it wasn’t until I reached the section called, “Giving it Up,” that I really started paying attention: “So what’s in your hand? Is that worry, burdens, heartache, pain, and fear I see? Why are you lugging that around? What if you knew someone wanted to carry these burdens for you?

The author referenced Matthew 11:28-30 (Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest…) and I Peter 5:7 (Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.) Then she said, “Perhaps it’s time to trust the Lord. If you’re ready to hand over your burdens, pray this along with me:

“Dear Lord, I’m ready to let go. I’m ready to give up control of my burdens. From now on, these burdens ______________________________ are yours. I give them to you to carry. While we’re at it, would you worry about them for me? I give you permission to come up with your own solutions. These burdens no longer belong to me, they belong to you. For you say in your Word, “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me” (Psalm 50:15). I’m calling on you now. In the name of Jesus and by the power of his name and resurrection power, I pray, Amen.”

I’m happy to say my memory kicked in full force when I saw Psalm 50:15. I went back and looked at my journal from the previous week and repented for taking back everything I’d called on the Lord about. Then I prayed and wrote down Linda Evans Shepherd’s prayer (above), giving last week’s burdens to God again, plus the new ones I’d added. Now every time one of these situations comes to mind, I just whisper, “I’m calling, Lord. I’m calling.”

What about you? Are you carrying heavy burdens that our Heavenly Father wants to carry for you? Is it time for you to trust God and hand over your burdens to Him? If so, I encourage you to find a quiet place to pray Linda’s prayer and write down all the burdens you’re going to let God carry. Then when the enemy of our souls or your own imagination remind you of them, join me in whispering, “I’m calling, Lord. I’m calling.”

*”When You Can’t Find God, How to Ignite the Power of His Presence” by Linda Evans Shepherd.