May 7, 2011 with 9 Comments

335.

Is God Messing with my Mind

Every Christian knows the verse.

You grew up memorizing it. You can probably say it with me.

Psalms 37:4  “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

You’ve likely heard every explanation of this verse known to mankind. Like the explanation that says that God doesn’t really mean your desires. But what God really means is your desire for Him.

Or the explanation that says that as you delight in Him, He becomes your desire.

I’m sure there is truth to every one of those explanations. But today, I don’t want to get into the exegesis of the text. What I’d like to do is address an issue that has many Christians confused and upset.

The question on the table is this: Does God give us desires that He simply does not intend to meet? or otherwise stated, why do so many of my desires remain unmet?

I’m specifically talking about good desires here.  Desires like when single people want to be married. Or when married people desperately want a child.  Or the desire for a job when you can’t pay your bills anymore. Or the desire for a friend when you’re so lonely you can hardly stand it. Or the desire for your loved one to finally understand who Jesus is.

In other words, if the verse says that God will give me the desires of my heart, why do I go on wanting? Is God simply dangling my desire like a carrot on a string?

I believe every Christian must consider the following questions when desire remains unmet in life. They are important questions.

  • Has the thing you desire become more important than God himself? The issue here is idolatry. Anything that you desire more than you want God may have become an idol in your life. Have some idols slowly crept into your life unaware? Perhaps you must remove them.
  • Can you delight in God if your desire remains unmet? Joy is that deep seated peace that overcomes you when you know that more has been given you than you deserve. Joy says things may not be perfect, but God is good. Joy looks at difficult circumstances and hopes that there will be a day where troubles will fade and God will remain. Will you determine to be joyful no matter what?
  • Do you delight in God in order to get your desire met? This question has to do with motive. How pure are your motives when you delight in God? Are you using God like to get the things you want? Have you missed the glaring point that salvation is not about you at all, but all about God and His glory, no matter how He chooses to be glorified?

One of the hardest lessons the Lord has ever taught me took place several years ago. I had finished praying and felt a deep sense that God wanted me to make a big decision in my life.

I took a big step of faith and waited.

But nothing I expected happened. In fact, the very opposite of what I thought would happen actually happened. It was a terrible time of doubt and fear. If I didn’t hear God clearly on this one point, how could I hear him clearly on anything else? If God disappointed me in this one area, how could He be trusted in any other area of my life?

The problem with my line of thinking was that I had simply made myself the center of the universe with God as my servant.

Does that sound offensive? Does it sound self centered and egotistical?

It certainly is. Years have passed and my perspective has shifted. God has purified my desires. He has become the one who is more precious than silver. I exist to honor Him – not the other way around. How this is accomplished is completely up to Him. Some day I will get a full explanation for “why”.

Until then, I choose to walk by faith.

Now you have to make that choice too.

 

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  • Kina

    Good morning! Interesting topic. The scriptures that talk about the desires of our heart and Jesus said, “ask anything in my name and the Father will give it.” But I believe it must be for Kingdom purposes. He blesses us and shows His favor in our individual lives because we are His children and that brings Him glory. In Ecclesiastes 3:1, it talks about timing and a season to everything under the heavens. This helps keep me grounded in Him for God knows best. So, walking by faith and continuing to pray for God’s Will to be done in my life regardless of anything else is key for me too!

  • Gina

    Morning! Doc. And. Kina I like what you both had to say this morning!

  • Linda

    Truly love God’s timing! just began reading a Chuck Swindoll book and this morning after reading your Blog Lina came across this next line in Swindoll’s book, so i quote. ‘God often does His best work in us when He catches us by surprise and introduces a change that is completely against our own desire.’
    Experiencing God’s work in me has been an almost constant change of my thinking; of how I perceive life, my marriage, my work, my kids, everything. His thoughts are higher than mine so I rest in the assurance that He knows better and when I choose to submit to the changed thinking I discover my ‘desires’ are changing and becoming aligned to His thinking and will. Sadly there are desires of my heart that are still deeply embedded in my wicked heart so God is still at work but I know He’ll finish that work He has started in me. As I see my pride and choose to humble myself before my King, He raises me up and gives me the desire of my heart that has been realigned to His higher and far better will than my own.

    • Lina

      well said.

  • Milo

    I love the way the pictures match your blog. We need to live on the principle Jesus taught us. Take this cup from me yet not my will but thine be done. Accepting God’s will is hard but this is what it takes. Good blog. The hymn goes “I am resting…..in the joy of who You are….”

  • Sue

    I wonder if God only gives desires or answers prayer if it results in kingdom purposes…sometimes I give to my kids because I love them, not just to get across a point or hope they’ll love me back. “And if you then who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matt. 7:11) God delights in us and His love is lavish for no other reason than He IS love!

    • Lina

      You are right sue. If we stop and think about it, God has given each of us MUCH more than we deserve or need! He is love indeed.

  • Suzanne

    Well.. a bit of honesty here.. I am tired of this verse. I have had it thrown in my face so much over the years. As a single women, in a mans fields who would very much like one day like to have a family (too late for that). It is there though.. I am just tired of it being used as a stick either.. keep on and you will get what you desire or God which change you desire.. I don’t know. Has not the God of the Universe made this sinner and her struggles? He knows my desires already.Life is hard.. desires or no.. There is no God in my line of work. Everything is okay and allowed. I do desire God.. thus.. I struggle with temptation. Maybe what I think is a desire is not? This is just one… sex, loneliness, health., family, to be used by God.. He knows…my desires will be completed in Heaven.. Good post. a lonely engineer

    • Linda

      Suzanne…you’re probably sick of hearin this too but my heart does go out to you. for me, in spite of being married, & having children (which ironically weren’t part of my heart’s desire as a young adult….i wanted what you have! education, career) i struggle with loneliness, desire for fulfilling sex, health issues, amicable family relationships, ministry or service to God in some tangible way other than just wife/mother. Our dissatisfaction, discontent stems from what? not really having an intimate relationship with God? not accepting our lot in life? just simply living in a fallen world? with a sinful nature? as i’m getting older, i desire what Paul apparently had. Joy in the midst of growing knowledge of Christ and His sufferings no matter the circumstances which were obviously pretty rotten! I’ve tried everything else and like Solomon am finding it’s all in vain BUT with God, there’s value in it somehow. Am i still lonely? sometimes. Do i experience fulfilling sex…um, not yet n don’t know if i ever will though i ponder the symbolism of sex and the relationship between Christ and us the Bride. What does that mean??? health…learning to be a better steward of this failing body. Learning to love family in as many kind of relationships available to me. (i have spiritual daughters and precious sisters in Christ). Am i used by God? when i look back, sometimes I see that He has but He seldom gives me a glimpse so i keep waiting to see what plans He has for me other than just wife/mother. Suzanne, i’ve rambled but I hope you’re in a small group and will be loved, comforted in those relationships. If not, please get into a small group where those women will come to know you and welcome you into relationships where you’ll be known and loved. That’s often all we really want…to be known and loved – regardless. My heart goes out to you with much love <3