This well-known verse from Psalm 37:4 often appears on coffee mugs, posters, and social media posts. Many interpret it as a promise that God will grant whatever we want if we follow Him closely enough. Some even twist it to support ideas like naming and claiming material blessings or earthly comforts. Yet this popular view misses the profound truth David conveys in the psalm. Rather than promising to fulfil every craving, the verse reveals how God transforms our hearts when we truly delight in Him. As we walk closely with the Lord, He reshapes our desires to align with His perfect will, leading to deeper satisfaction and lasting fulfilment.
Choose to Delight in the Lord
David begins with a direct command: “Delight thyself also in the LORD.” The reflexive pronoun “thyself” emphasises personal choice and responsibility. We must actively direct our hearts toward God and find our deepest joy in Him, regardless of circumstances.
This delight is not passive. It requires intentional effort, much like choosing to enjoy something unfamiliar for the sake of love or growth. For instance, one might force themselves to appreciate an activity they initially dislike, only to discover genuine enjoyment over time. In the same way, we can train our hearts to find delight in the Lord above all else.
David wrote Psalm 37 amid real struggles. He observed the wicked prospering while the righteous faced hardship, yet he urged believers not to fret. Instead, he pointed to the unchanging nature of God. Circumstances shift, blessings come and go, but the Lord remains constant. Delighting in Him provides stability that no earthly thing can offer.
When we prioritise delight in the Lord over freedom, success, relationships, or material gain, our perspective changes. Anything we enjoy more than Christ risks leading us astray. True satisfaction flows from rooting our joy in the One who never changes.
Allow God to Reshape Your Desires
The promise follows: “and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” This is not a blank cheque for selfish wants. Our hearts, as Jeremiah 17:9 warns, are “desperately wicked.” We often crave things that harm us or pursue good things for wrong motives.
God does not simply grant every desire. Instead, He reshapes them. As we delight in Him, our longings gradually align with His will. What we once craved may later seem unwise, and we thank God for withholding it. He becomes a teacher, not a vending machine, governing and growing our desires rather than merely fulfilling them.
This process often involves waiting and patience. David contrasts the short-lived prosperity of the wicked with the eternal good God prepares for those who trust Him. When our desires match His heart, we no longer fear missing His best. God places those desires within reach, though we may still need to pray, work, and trust through the journey.
Examples abound of lives transformed this way. Robert A. Jaffray, born into wealth in Toronto, surrendered his future to missions after hearing a message from A.B. Simpson. He pioneered work in China and Indonesia, even finding peace in a brutal internment camp during World War II, declaring he was in the centre of God’s will. John Beckett, heir to a prosperous business, shifted from pursuing profit and ego to viewing his company as a platform for stewardship and biblical principles, as shared in his book Loving Monday.
Trust God to Fulfill What He Has Formed
Once God shapes a desire aligned with His will, He faithfully fulfils it. The verse uses a certain future tense: “he shall give thee.” The emphasis rests on God’s initiative and timing, not ours.
David himself experienced this. Anointed as a young shepherd, he waited years through trials before becoming king. The desire God placed in his heart matured through patience and wilderness seasons.
Fanny Crosby, blinded in infancy due to a medical error, delighted in the Lord despite her limitations. She memorised vast portions of Scripture and wrote over 8,000 hymns, including favourites like “Blessed Assurance.” She even expressed gratitude for her blindness, believing it sharpened her spiritual vision and ensured the first face she would see was her Saviour’s.
We can trust God to complete what He begins. Stop forcing outcomes or demanding instant results. Pray for patience as much as provision. Anchor your soul in Him, knowing He brings faithful completion in His perfect time.
Conclusion
Psalm 37:4 offers far more than superficial promises of getting what we want. It invites us into a transformative relationship where delighting in the Lord recalibrates our hearts. Our ambitions purify, expectations steady, and longings align with what is eternally good.
Surrender your dreams and desires to Him. Delight yourself in the Lord, allow Him to govern your heart, and trust Him to fulfil what He has formed. In doing so, you discover the profound joy of wanting what God wants most, secure in His unchanging faithfulness.
