From every corner of society, voices tell us to identify our deepest desires and then to pursue them with tireless determination. This mind-set has so influenced our way of life that many of us — followers of Christ included — are left weary and frustrated. Even when a milestone is reached or a desire is met, moments of satisfaction are short lived. “Keep reaching,” the voices insist, so we press forward.

As the pattern repeats, pursuing our heart’s desire becomes an arduous chase: striving to be the perfect spouse or parent; seeking a well-paying, fulfilling career; pursuing a position on a prestigious board or on an influential committee within the church. After a time, the pursuit of desires becomes in itself an unexpected crosswind. Its relentless gusts damage relationships and shove peace of mind beyond reach. What we identified as our deepest personal desire becomes a blur.

Through the author of Psalm 37, the Lord invites us to hear a different voice, the Divine Voice. “Delight yourself in the Lord,” the psalmist writes, “and he will give you the desires of your heart.” I’ve often wondered what the psalmist intended by the words “delight yourself in the Lord.” How does a person go about that? The answer could be as straightforward as Webster’s definition of the verb. Delight: to take great pleasure in something or someone. If true, our Creator invites us to look to him not just for help in a crisis or forgiveness when we sin, but also for the pleasure of a soul-satisfying relationship.

It has been my experience, and probably yours, that when I seek satisfaction in things of the spirit, my desires seem to change. Some slip quietly into the background; others disappear entirely. My lasting desires, though, seem to fall nicely into place over time. God doesn’t promise to gratify all our whims or appetites, but he can be trusted to give us the desires of our heart. I like to think that when my heart is open the Lord puts those desires there in the first place.