When
desires are denied
PASTOR
HUCK KUSNER
Question:
Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will
give you the desires of your heart.” What do you say to someone
who fails to reach their goals, but loves the Lord with all
their heart?
Answer:
Name one teenager who believes their parents are right 100
percent of the time. Maybe you know one, but one is all there
could possibly be. As we were speeding through our teenage
years, they seemed to last forever. But we had not been around
that long and lacked experiential knowledge, which is reason
for the frustration. For the most part, parents usually know
what they’re talking about because they have been there and
done that.
God
has already been to tomorrow. He knows what every desire and
decision we make will bring. He foresees danger, failure,
victory, benefit and fulfillment. Although many of us occasionally
disagree for a season, eventually we discover that to argue
with God is to fight for our failure.
Coach
Tony Dungy is a Christian man who was fortunate to win a Super
Bowl ring with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was very disappointed
to play for only three years but it was as a coach that he
met the wife God had for him. After they were married, they
didn’t want to leave Pittsburgh, but coaching changes moved
them to San Francisco, Kansas City, Minnesota, Tampa and eventually
Indianapolis where, of course, his latest Super Bowl championship
has come.
The
journey was a time of learning and growing in football tactics
as well as spiritual things. As Christians, we learn from
the word of God that the real failure of biblical leaders
was more spiritual than tactical. Coach Dungy has embraced
biblical values as a professional coach. He has always run
close with team chaplains and Christian athletic organizations
wherever he has worked. He obviously remains under the spout
where the blessings are pouring out. It just doesn’t always
seem that way in our valleys of decision or times of change.
Fewer
coaches lead their teams to Super Bowl victories. Along the
way God can change our goals and give us different desires
which will eventually produce greater fulfillment. God’s goals
for our lives may produce greater benefit for more people
than if we reach our own. Our earthly goals may be what we
are doing right now, but our real life’s work is getting to
know and love Jesus Christ. He’ll handle the rest.
We
may feel that we would have succeeded in our desires if only
we had better opportunities along the way. Better to trust
God and believe when He declares, “The steps of a good person
are ordered of the Lord,” and He delights in that way (See
Psa 37:23). Sometimes God has to short‑circuit even
our best plans for our own benefit.
