My heart is severely pained within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror has overwhelmed me. So I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. Indeed, I would wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.” (Psalm 55:4-8)

On The Wings Of A Dove

Sorrow and pain are the consequence of man’s rebellion in the garden. God did not intend for His creation to experience grief, but since the time Adam and Eve were removed from Eden, the intense feelings of loss accompanied the lives of every man. It is difficult to imagine how crushed Adam and Eve were when Cain killed Abel. Who did they turn to for solace? How did they understand death or rationalize the murder of their son by their son? It is unfathomable to imagine their sorrow.

The Bible is filled with stories of grief and loss. King David had his share of sorrow. Some were brought on by his own recklessness, and other times, those who sought to destroy him. He wrote many psalms describing the deep feelings of pain and suffering at the hands of others. There were stories never revealed to the background of the psalms but with an understanding of the human story is but to know David’s experiences were not uncommon. David had enemies. King Saul tried to kill him for many years. In all of this, David sought the only source of comfort that could give him true meaning in life. His relationship with the Lord was his anchor of hope.

On one occasion, David found himself deeply troubled by the trials of suffering, including the terrors of death. Fear and trembling overwhelmed him with great anxiety. He was trembling with his grief. His world was overtaking him with the weight of his pain. There was almost no hope for him. His greatest desire was to have the wings of a dove to fly away and rest. He wanted to fly away to the quiet of the wilderness. If only he could escape his grief and find peace again. His life was like a windy storm and a blowing tempest with no escape. He prayed to God to find him relief and give him cause to rejoice in the favor of the Lord.

David knew his answer was found in his relationship with God. In the face of his grief, he called on God to rescue him. His prayer reached the divine portals morning, noon, and night. He knew God heard his prayer and would ransom him and keep him safe. David’s consolation was to know that God rules forever. There was nothing that man could do against him if David trusted the word of the Lord and His presence. The joy in David’s darkest night was that God would hear him. There is no greater hope than to see God’s power working in a man’s heart depending on God.

To fly away on the wings of a dove is where true peace and happiness are found. Like Noah sending out the dove who returned with an olive branch in its mouth, peace comes from the hand of the Lord. It is not an easy task to overcome grief, but it can be done. Trying to find a path through the valley of darkness without God will fail. Jesus faced His greatest hour praying and trusting the Father. God took care of Jesus and watched Him die. On the third day, God raised His Son from the grave. Sometimes, God will allow the difficulties of grief to almost overwhelm us, but He will never allow it to destroy us. We have the promise of God as an anchor that we can overcome. Through that promise, we can mount up on the wings of a dove and find peace once again. Oh, that I had wings like a dove. I would fly away and be at rest.