Will God Give Me What I Want?

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Day 5

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Have you ever really wanted something and not gotten it? Maybe even as we pose that question, that thing comes to mind.

The degree.

The marriage.

The house.

The job.

It’s in those times of want that some scriptures may feel more confusing than comforting. Scriptures like:

“May he grant you your heart's desire

and fulfill all your plans!”

Psalm 20:4

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”

Matthew 7:7-8

“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”

1 John 5:14-15

Delight yourself in the Lord,

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4

Is getting what we want as simple as asking God for it? Is what we are pining after really within arms reach?

Let’s get started.

Summary

Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Maybe you can recall someone padding their personal wants with this scriptural promise, or you have offered it in solace across a small group gathering.

If we aren’t careful, we see Psalm 37:4 as a means to getting our way and not a responsibility we also bear, and in doing so, we undermine what the scripture truly says.

The issue is not the scripture, it’s our view of it.

Look at the verse again, and pay attention to two key words: desire and delight. Let’s define them.

Delight

If you flip through the Psalms, you will find delight littered throughout the pages.

Look to Psalm 1:1-3–

“Blessed is the man

who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,

nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

but his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree

planted by streams of water

that yields its fruit in its season,

and its leaf does not wither.

In all that he does, he prospers.”

Or Psalm 112:1–

“Praise the Lord!

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,

who greatly delights in his commandments!”

Or Psalm 119:47–

“for I find my delight in your commandments,

which I love.”

What does it really mean?

Scripture shows us that to delight in God means to be refreshed and satisfied in Him. One biblical dictionary defines delight as “a high degree of pleasure, or satisfaction of mind; joy.”1 It means, to borrow words from Bible teacher Tara-Leigh Cobble, that He, God himself, is “where the joy is.”

What we delight in changes what we want. Let’s see how.

Desire

That very word can conjure up an eclectic combination of wants, both big and small. You may desire marriage, financial peace, social status or monetary gain. Maybe the desire you have in mind could change your entire life, or merely fix your current situation. Whatever it is, we all know what it is like to want.

Lean into these words: it’s not bad to have desires. And yet, scripture tells us this in Ecclesiastes 1:2-3, ““Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun?” (NIV)

What is meaningless? Everything.

Where does that leave us? What about our well-aimed desires? How do we handle the tension of this text?

We look to our greatest example, Jesus, mere moments before He went to the cross.

Not My Will, But Yours

“And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

Luke 22:41-42

The night that Jesus was betrayed, He led His disciples to the Mount of Olives following their final meal together. It was there that He sat alone with the Father and prayed the words you read a moment ago. We all have prayed a version of this prayer:

Father, if you are willing,

…let them come home.

…let me get into the school of my dreams.

…have them offer me the job.

But Jesus’ prayer continues, “Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

We know how the story plays out. Moments later, Jesus would be betrayed by a friend and arrested. He would be rejected by another friend, He would be mocked and declared guilty. He was led away to be crucified, and he died a death He didn’t deserve.

What do you see when you read of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane?

When we read this text, we find ourselves staring at a sobering reality: Jesus wanted the cup to pass, and it didn’t. We find for ourselves a perfect example of Jesus coming before the Father, making his desires known, and submitting to God’s perfect plan.

All throughout Psalm 37, we see the reward of waiting on the Lord, the promise to those who keep his way, the declaration of how God will provide. Pause wherever you are and read the entire psalm one more time.

Do you see it?

Trust in the Lord.

He will bring forth righteousness.

Be still before the Lord.

He will establish your steps.

He will not forsake His saints.

The Lord helps and delivers.

Take refuge in Him.

The comfort God offers doesn't come from your desire being answered, but rather from who you delight in.

Final Thoughts

As we conclude our time together, we are reminded of what the psalmist writes in Psalm 119.

“Oh how I love your law!

It is my meditation all the day.

Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,

for it is ever with me.

I have more understanding than all my teachers,

for your testimonies are my meditation.

I understand more than the aged,

for I keep your precepts.

I hold back my feet from every evil way,

in order to keep your word.

I do not turn aside from your rules,

for you have taught me.

How sweet are your words to my taste,

sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Through your precepts I get understanding;

therefore I hate every false way.”

Psalm 119:97-104

Would these words be true of us?

Would we love what we read?

Would your inspired Word grow us in wisdom and understanding?

Would, like a coveted friendship, this Word only get better time?

Would we cling to your Word and would we know you more Lord because of it?

It is our deepest hope that the scripture we explored has come alive in your heart and mind.

May it be a guiding light and a source of strength, equipping you to confidently turn to God’s Word in any emergency. Whatever challenges lie ahead, know that within the pages of scripture, you will find the wisdom, courage, and assurance to face them, fortified by the truth and promises of God.

What's Next?

How would you define 'delighting in the Lord' in your own words? Do you feel like that is true of you?
God often works in ways we don’t fully understand. How does this truth help in understanding the idea of unanswered prayers and unmet desires? Can you share a situation where you experienced something similar?

Scripture References

14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,

15and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

17so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

12For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

14For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the

Lord

your God will be with you wherever you go.”

28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

16But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.

11For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the

Lord

, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

12Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

13You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

14I will be found by you,” declares the

Lord

, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the

Lord

, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

2in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the

Lord

given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years.

3So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.

4I prayed to the

Lord

my God and confessed:

“Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. 6We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land.

28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

10For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

27So God created mankind in his own image,

in the image of God he created them;

male and female he created them.

15And I will put enmity

between you and the woman,

and between your offspring and hers;

he will crush your head,

and you will strike his heel.”

16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,

2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,

5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

9not by works, so that no one can boast.

10For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

3You will keep in perfect peace

those whose minds are steadfast,

because they trust in you.

4Trust in the

Lord

forever,

for the

Lord

, the

Lord

himself, is the Rock eternal.

10The ruined city lies desolate;

the entrance to every house is barred.

11In the streets they cry out for wine;

all joy turns to gloom,

all joyful sounds are banished from the earth.

12The city is left in ruins,

its gate is battered to pieces.

13So will it be on the earth

and among the nations,

as when an olive tree is beaten,

or as when gleanings are left after the grape harvest.

6On this mountain the

Lord

Almighty will prepare

a feast of rich food for all peoples,

a banquet of aged wine—

the best of meats and the finest of wines.

7On this mountain he will destroy

the shroud that enfolds all peoples,

the sheet that covers all nations;

8he will swallow up death forever.

The Sovereign

Lord

will wipe away the tears

from all faces;

he will remove his people’s disgrace

from all the earth.

The

Lord

has spoken.

9In that day they will say,

“Surely this is our God;

we trusted in him, and he saved us.

This is the

Lord

, we trusted in him;

let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”

6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

22Cast your cares on the

Lord

and he will sustain you;

he will never let

the righteous be shaken.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Psalm 37

Of David.

1Do not fret because of those who are evil

or be envious of those who do wrong;

2for like the grass they will soon wither,

like green plants they will soon die away.

3Trust in the

Lord

and do good;

dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4Take delight in the

Lord

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5Commit your way to the

Lord

;

trust in him and he will do this:

6He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,

your vindication like the noonday sun.

7Be still before the

Lord

and wait patiently for him;

do not fret when people succeed in their ways,

when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;

do not fret—it leads only to evil.

9For those who are evil will be destroyed,

but those who hope in the

Lord

will inherit the land.

10A little while, and the wicked will be no more;

though you look for them, they will not be found.

11But the meek will inherit the land

and enjoy peace and prosperity.

12The wicked plot against the righteous

and gnash their teeth at them;

13but the Lord laughs at the wicked,

for he knows their day is coming.

14The wicked draw the sword

and bend the bow

to bring down the poor and needy,

to slay those whose ways are upright.

15But their swords will pierce their own hearts,

and their bows will be broken.

16Better the little that the righteous have

than the wealth of many wicked;

17for the power of the wicked will be broken,

but the

Lord

upholds the righteous.

18The blameless spend their days under the

Lord

’s care,

and their inheritance will endure forever.

19In times of disaster they will not wither;

in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

20But the wicked will perish:

Though the

Lord

’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,

they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.

21The wicked borrow and do not repay,

but the righteous give generously;

22those the

Lord

blesses will inherit the land,

but those he curses will be destroyed.

23The

Lord

makes firm the steps

of the one who delights in him;

24though he may stumble, he will not fall,

for the

Lord

upholds him with his hand.

25I was young and now I am old,

yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken

or their children begging bread.

26They are always generous and lend freely;

their children will be a blessing.

27Turn from evil and do good;

then you will dwell in the land forever.

28For the

Lord

loves the just

and will not forsake his faithful ones.

Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed;

the offspring of the wicked will perish.

29The righteous will inherit the land

and dwell in it forever.

30The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,

and their tongues speak what is just.

31The law of their God is in their hearts;

their feet do not slip.

32The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,

intent on putting them to death;

33but the

Lord

will not leave them in the power of the wicked

or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

34Hope in the

Lord

and keep his way.

He will exalt you to inherit the land;

when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.

35I have seen a wicked and ruthless man

flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,

36but he soon passed away and was no more;

though I looked for him, he could not be found.

37Consider the blameless, observe the upright;

a future awaits those who seek peace.

38But all sinners will be destroyed;

there will be no future for the wicked.

39The salvation of the righteous comes from the

Lord

;

he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

40The

Lord

helps them and delivers them;

he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,

because they take refuge in him.

4May he give you the desire of your heart

and make all your plans succeed.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

15And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

2“Meaningless! Meaningless!”

says the Teacher.

“Utterly meaningless!

Everything is meaningless.”

3What do people gain from all their labors

at which they toil under the sun?

1Blessed is the one

who does not walk in step with the wicked

or stand in the way that sinners take

or sit in the company of mockers,

2but whose delight is in the law of the

Lord

and who meditates on his law day and night.

3That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither—

whatever they do prospers.

41He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

97Oh, how I love your law!

I meditate on it all day long.

98Your commands are always with me

and make me wiser than my enemies.

99I have more insight than all my teachers,

for I meditate on your statutes.

100I have more understanding than the elders,

for I obey your precepts.

101I have kept my feet from every evil path

so that I might obey your word.

102I have not departed from your laws,

for you yourself have taught me.

103How sweet are your words to my taste,

sweeter than honey to my mouth!

104I gain understanding from your precepts;

therefore I hate every wrong path.

Heath Hatmaker

Heath Hatmaker leads the Student Ministry for Passion City Church 515. He studied church leadership at Liberty University before moving to Chicago where he met his wife, Colleen. They now live in Marietta with their children, Willa and Bear. Heath loves to drink a cup of coffee, connect with people, and communicate God’s word.