“Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.”
(Psalm 37:4 NASB)
Desires of Our Hearts
This verse raises many questions: Does this apply to any desire of our hearts? Is God obligated to give our desires to us? What does it mean to delight ourselves in the Lord? We will explore these questions and more as we dig into the background of this passage and examine how it may be properly applied in the field of Christian life coaching.
Common Misconceptions
Has a well-meaning brother or sister in Christ ever shared this verse with you (if you are single or when you were single) to encourage you that someday God would bring you a spouse who would make all your dreams come true? Sometimes this verse is used as an attempt—often unsolicited—to give “hope” to single Christians. Some singles are not looking for a spouse and are content in their singleness (which is a biblical attitude; remember, the apostle Paul was unmarried and praised the benefits of singleness!).
Other times, this verse may be viewed as a formula for getting what we want from God. People may think, “If I just spend some time doing what God wants me to do, then I can have the __________ that I really want” (fill in the blank with things like job, promotion, spouse, relationships, applause/approval, success, money, etc.). The focus turns to the individual and anything the individual wants, as often occurs when any verse is taken out of context and misapplied.
Context and Meaning
The theme of Psalm 37 is justice, as the passage portrays the contrasting outcomes for the wicked and the righteous. The righteous can trust God’s justice because He will sustain and deliver them, but the wicked will face destruction. Despite knowing this, righteous people often compare their lives with the lives of those who don’t follow God but still seem to be enjoying prosperity. When the wicked have great material possessions and outward signs of success, the righteous tend to worry, grow envious, and doubt God’s justice. This fear, envy, and unbelief leads to more sin and evil (37:8).
Amid this discussion of the temptation to doubt God’s justice, we find this verse about delighting in the Lord and receiving the desires of our heart. David, the author of this psalm, reminds us to trust God and to continue doing good (37:3) and to commit our lives to Him (37:5). Trust in God should prompt us to enjoy time with God. When we delight in the Lord above everything else, we cannot desire anything that would go against His will. Our desires come into alignment with God’s. Worldly, unrestrained desires actually steal our joy and peace. Godly desires bring us security, blessing, and a future (37:29).
Appropriate Application
Human beings are constantly comparing themselves. That is why one of the Ten Commandments instructs us not to covet anything our neighbor has (Exodus 20:17 or why David cries to God multiple times in the Psalms about how his enemies’ victories seem unfair to him. In today’s culture, social media has provided outlets for this comparison problem to explode. Many people you are coaching or counseling—or simply coming into contact with—are likely to be struggling with comparison and feelings of inadequacy, worthlessness, or loneliness fueled by social media and popular culture.
This verse reminds us that the worldly desires and success we are tempted to pursue will not bring us the joy we seek. We were designed by God to follow His desires for our lives. We need to bring our desires back into alignment with God’s desires for holiness, love, peace, and goodness. This verse does not promise money, fame, or popularity, but it does promise intimacy with God and a life that pleases Him. Nothing is more important.
This psalm points us to several key things we should be doing as righteous followers of Christ: trust in God’s justice and wait patiently for it, release anger and envy, and be gracious and generous. Focusing on doing these good things instead of comparing our situation with others can alleviate a great deal of our negative emotions. Finding a spouse will not solve our problems. Making tons of money will not solve our problems. Reordering our priorities the way God intended by seeking His kingdom first (Matthew 6:33) is the only way to achieve the good and godly life.
Emily Fraige, MA, is a writer and editor with ICCI and Hope for the Heart. She helps to develop resources for the ICCI courses, contributes to quarterly publications, and edits a variety of materials for the ministry. Prior to working with ICCI, she served with the student ministry at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas, TX, where she helped to create devotionals and small-group curriculum for students. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Biola University and Master of Arts in Biblical Exegesis and Linguistics from Dallas Theological Seminary. Emily is passionate about helping people interpret God’s Word accurately and apply it to their lives.
