Week 6: Psalm 37

Psalm 37

“Babe, I just got let go from my job.” The ground seemed to give way beneath my feet and I attempted to steady myself as I tried to process the words my sweet husband just said to me. I couldn't believe what he was saying; it didn't seem real. I will never forget the day when my husband called me one month before I was due to give birth to our precious daughter with this heartbreaking news. In a season where provision is all the more needed? It just couldn't be.

This week's psalm contrasts the life of the righteous with that of the wicked. David encourages the righteous man in several ways to not allow the perceived luxury and ease of the wicked to discourage his heart:

Do not be agitated by evildoers.

Do not envy those who do wrong. 

Do not be agitated by the one who prospers in his way.

The little that the righteous person has is better than the abundance of many wicked people. 

When my husband lost his job, it was tempting to feel humiliated. While he had done no wrong and was simply mistreated, it felt as though we should have been able to prevent this hardship. But as we began to approach the situation with an attitude of prayer, we found a way to be grateful and confident—even in our lack. 

With the gift of hindsight, we were grateful to have been taken out of a very unhealthy work environment that was slowly sucking the life out of my husband. 

We were grateful to have the gift of my husband at home for three months (!!!) after I had my daughter, something I will always cherish with fondness and joy. 

After an incredibly difficult year (the job loss was just one of the hard things that happened in 2021), we were grateful to have been given a fresh start in a new town as we moved for a new job opportunity for my husband. 

In this week's psalm, we see David contrasting the life of the wicked with that of the righteous in order to express the beauty and richness of a life lived in Christ. While the wicked may appear to have it all, we know they are lacking the most important part of life—joy in Christ and the confidence we have in Him. 

We could have a dream job, perfectly well behaved children, a magazine worthy home, and every prayer answered the way we wanted it to be—but if Jesus was not with us, would it be worth it? Would we want a life without Him, even if it were full of ease and comfort?

Psalm 37:4 used to be one of my favorite verses in high school. This was before I realized what it actually meant. This verse says: “Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you your heart's desires.” Well, 16 year old me assumed that meant that I would get all of the things I wanted because I was a good Christian girl who loved Jesus. But when we delight in Him, our greatest delight is Himself. To walk with Him in the midst of suffering and pain and still give Him glory is to be made like Him. 

The one who truly delights in the LORD will find his heart and desires changed, steadily aligning with God's own good desires for his life. Thus we see that finding delight in God is a key to a happy, satisfied life.

Most of all, it shows that when we delight ourselves in the LORD, He gives us our delight. If He is our delight, He gives us more of Himself. - David Guzik

This week, consider your desires. Are they rooted in selfishness or a desire for comfort? Or is the true cry of your heart to have more of Him?

Praise the Lord! When we tell Him the truth, He is faithful to love us through it, because He already knows.

-Jessica