I have been married to my wife Jenny for almost 35 years. I know, it is not a record, but it is a personal best. Jenny is incredibly good looking and has an incredible personality that lights up every room she enters. She had a heart that is drawn to those who were hurting, and troubled, a sense of humor, and an unending passion for Jesus. These traits are what first attracted me to her–I want to always be around a person like that. There is nothing wrong with this, but as time has gone on, I noticed that my attraction for my wife has changed. My love for her is no longer just based on what she does for me or how she makes me feel when I am around her, now it is about pleasing her and cherishing her. Now it is based on me enjoying just being around her and ways that I can fulfill her own life.
Psalm 37:4 states, “Delight your- self in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
Like my marriage, I thought it was all about what God would do for me and how He would answer my prayers. The problem is that I was still the center of the relationship. As I continued on my faith journey, this verse started to change in my perspective of what it meant. It was no longer about getting what I wanted, but allowing God to pave those desires in my heart. Maybe it could read, “Take delight in the Lord, and He will assign me what I should want.” This is a great step my personal Christian maturity and my relationship with God (and in marriage alike.) I start to desire what the other wants instead of demanding my own way, but it doesn’t stop there as I believe there is a deeper meaning. Getting things from some- one is great–who doesn’t like presents? Especially if the present is the thing we’ve been asking for.
God can put His desires in our heart, but there is a greater delight. The ultimate is not just things from God, but God Himself. For me, marriage has become enjoying being around my wife and who she is. If we have nothing else in this world, we still have each other. Isn’t that the greatest goal? Maybe the proper way to read this verse is, “Take delight in Christ, and He will become your heart’s desire.” No longer in relationship for things, but just enjoying knowing Him. It is a high pursuit and it takes time, but ultimately it is the goal of each of us and the greatest thing is God promised He would put this desire inside each of us if we ask for it and allow Him to do it. So ask away and let Him become your delight and if you are married, have a great anniversary this year–whenever it is.