The Freedom of Total Commitment
“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:”
We often speak of commitment as a heavy-duty, grit-your-teeth determination to stick with something no matter the cost. While there is certainly an element of endurance involved, the biblical invitation to "commit" your way to the Lord offers a picture of profound relief rather than burdensome duty.
To understand the depth of this invitation, we must look at the language the Psalmist uses. The Hebrew word translated as "commit" is gal, which literally means to "roll." It is the same imagery found in Proverbs 16:3, where we are told to commit our works to the Lord. The picture is of a man carrying a burden so heavy that he cannot bear it alone, and he rolls it off his own shoulders and onto the shoulders of One who is strong enough to carry it. When we commit ourselves to God, we are not just making a promise to behave; we are actively dislodging the crushing weight of our future, our worries, and our plans, and rolling them entirely onto God.
This is a new level of commitment. It is a refusal to carry the anxiety of the outcome. The text links this commitment directly to trust. The Hebrew concept of believing or trusting often carries the sense of leaning your whole weight on something, as Abraham "leaned" on God's promise. It means we stop trying to figure out our own way to victory and decide that God is competent to manage our lives.
We all fight battles and face the temptation to stop fighting and just give up. The enemy of our souls wants us to believe that God has abandoned us or that our way is hidden from the Lord. But when we are fiercely committed to God’s purpose, we realise that He is the burden-bearing God who has carried His people from birth and will sustain them to the end.
We see the ultimate example of this commitment in the Lord Jesus Christ. When He suffered, He did not retaliate. Instead, He "entrusted himself to him who judges justly". Even at the very end, His final act was one of total commitment as He cried, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit". Jesus rolled the entirety of His life and mission into the Father's hands, confident that the Father would vindicate Him.
Because of Jesus, we can have that same confidence. God loves you and wants you to be in a committed relationship with Him for life. He has more in store for you than you have ever asked or imagined. When we commit our way, our lifestyle, our conduct, and our destiny to Him, He promises to act. The Scripture assures us that He will bring it to pass. As we wait patiently, even when the wicked seem to prosper, God is working to bring our righteousness to light.
So, do not be afraid to let go of the control you have been clutching so tightly. Roll the burden of your life onto the Lord today. It is the most satisfying, rewarding, and adventurous decision you can make.
Prayer:
Father, I confess that I have tried to carry the weight of my life on my own shoulders. I have tried to control the outcome and have grown weary. Today, I choose to roll my way onto You. I commit my plans, my fears, and my future into Your hands. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for showing me how to entrust my spirit to the Father. I choose to lean my whole weight upon Your promises, believing that You will bring Your perfect will to pass in my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.