I’m sure you’ve heard your share of extreme weight-loss plans. But ingesting a parasite? The UK’s Telegraph reports that some people in Hong Kong have resorted to using parasitic worms to peel off the pounds. The worms allow people to keep eating what they want and still shed weight. But the giant intestinal roundworms, which can grow up to 15 inches in length, lay up to 200,000 eggs a day. They can also cause abdominal pain, flulike symptoms, and even death. Yep, this is one dangerous way to try and win the battle of the bulge!

The idea of literally being devoured from within reminds me of what David experienced when he wrote that he was being “overwhelmed by . . . troubles” (Psalm 55:2). The source of his pain was someone from his inner circle—a close friend (Psalm 55:12-13). As David faced the bitterness of his betrayal, he experienced physical effects: a pounding heart, trembling, and shaking (Psalm 55:4-5). His mind was racing as he dealt with feeling “overwhelmed” and consumed by “terror” (Psalm 55:2,4). David was being gobbled up from the inside out.

I’m sure you can relate to his sinking feelings and physical symptoms. When we’re facing hardships in life, often we try to simply keep it all inside and present a calm facade to the world. But God has a different plan for our burdens: calling and casting. He inspired David to write, “I will call on God, and the Lord will rescue me” (Psalm 55:16). As we pray to God, David tells us to “cast [our] cares on the Lord and He will sustain [us]” (Psalm 55:22 NIV).

What burden is weighing heavy on you today? What’s devouring you from the inside out? Follow David’s inspired words: Call out to God and cast your burdens on Him. He won’t allow you to “slip and fall” (Psalm 55:22).

NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Judges 7:1-25