Singing Psalm 37 for confident contentment without complacency
- Karen Wallace
- Apr 19, 2022
- 6 min read
Updated: Dec 15, 2025
Confident contentment comes to you when you are willing to wait for it
There before you lie two paths.
One path offers quick, selfish gain. It requires that you to grasp for what others have. It leaves you insecure, living with discontent on low boil, not even knowing what it is you really want.
The other path promises everlasting joy. It requires that you deny yourself. It leads you to depend on and trust in your creator as you wait for confident contentment.
Confident contentment comes by faith and not by sight
The first path is by sight. Your hope is in ease without suffering in this life.
The second path is by the gift of faith that your God not only exists but rewards those who earnestly seek him. The lion’s share of this reward he promises will be complete in the life to come. He promises peace and joy will surround you as you wait trusting him even through suffering. You trust that God is developing character in you through suffering and patience. You trust that which he is working in you will see you through in confident contentment for all eternity!
Confident contentment comes through character building
This character keeps you from envying those who take the first path. You do all you can to influence them to come to Jesus for the rest that you have found in all that you do.
This character motivates you to endure to the end as you follow the only one who conquered death. Whatever you have been given to endure, your mind’s eye is on the prize of the Lord‘s presence with you here. Then, in a more full way, you are looking toward when he comes again.
He will take you who are eagerly waiting for him to the home that he has been preparing for you all along. As he gives you the faith to enjoy him here, he gives you the confident contentment to know that your hope is sure. He will give you the desire of your heart, a never-ending, sinless, friendship with him.
Those who reject this offer of grace and mercy, though they might look successful now, will have everlasting regrets. You are not complacent in asking that their eyes would be opened to see what you see and to hear what you hear. You ask that they would have abundant life now and forever. You ask that they not seek it for themselves but be willing to forgo quick and selfish gain to attain it. You ask that they would turn from the path of a lost sheep that has gone astray and follow the good shepherd. You ask that they would have confident contentment all the way home.
Singing Psalm 37 gives you confident contentment without complacency
Not complacent, you live to proclaim God’s worthiness to woo those who are lost. You were lost once but now know and love him. You want this for them too, not for yourself, but for his glory.
Jesus makes it easy to avoid the dark path of forsaking God. It’s futile misery to go after quick schemes entangled in disordered desires for yourself. Jesus helps you embrace the slow and sure path of light and life in confident contentment. You trust in, depend on, and wait for Jesus with eager expectation. You are waiting for Jesus to bring you home to a place of ever increasing joy.
“The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
when he delights in his way;
Though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
for the Lord upholds his hand.
“Mark the blameless and behold the upright,
for there is a future for the man of peace.
But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;
the future of the wicked shall be cut off.
“The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
The Lord helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.” ~ Psalm 37:23-24, 37-40
April 19, 2022
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Heart ♥️ reflection
January 25, 2025
“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for
‘All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
and the flower falls,
but the word of the Lord remains forever.’
“And this word is the good news that was preached to you.” ~ 1 Peter 1:22-25
Question: How can I see and trust truth enough to obey and enjoy it?
Heart reflection: Landing on truth that remains forever is what sets you free from doubt, insecurity, and second guessing what is right. Truth is not a something, it’s a someone. Truth is the Word made flesh, Christ in you born again by his seed. He is the imperishable, supernatural seed that died and multiplies himself in his body, his church, his bride. He grows more and more alive as he abides within you and can never again die. Jesus, our one bridegroom, is the only way to the Father. Jesus is the truth. Jesus is the life. Jesus truly is the only way to learn to love God and others above self. To know Jesus is eternal life. To obey Jesus is to obey truth. By this you show that you trust and love him. The way to be sure of what you hope for is to see and know Jesus enough to trust him at his word and hold to his teachings that lead to love. It’s in doing what he says that you arrive at what truth is. Jesus the person becomes your heart’s desire to enjoy.
“Enjoy the LORD and He will give
Your heart’s desire to you.
Commit your pathway to the LORD;
Trust Him; He will be true.” ~ Psalm 37:4-5
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The Psalms—Q&A
“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” ~ Matthew 16:26
“And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?” ~ Luke 12:25-26
“Better is the just one’s pittance,
Than the wicked’s many gains.” ~ Psalm 37:16
How can singing Psalm 37 help me grow in my affection for God and in my connection with others?
“He’ll manifest your righteousness
As clearly as the light,
And show the justice of your cause
Like noonday shining bright. ~ Psalm 37:6
“For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.” ~ 1 Peter 2:19-20
All are sinners, but what kind of sinner is justified before God as if he had not sinned?
The kind who comes to Jesus whose grace is sufficient, trusting him in weakness to be his strength. The kind who continues more and more to seek God’s face, enduring whatever comes his way, and following Jesus in every step.
“Trust in the LORD and cultivate
The good that you possess.
“Commit your pathway to the LORD;
Trust Him; He will be true.
“Before the LORD be still and wait,
For Him wait earnestly.
“Steps a man takes are established
By the LORD for his delight.
“His descendants are a blessing
Through the day he lends and gives.
“Since God’s law within his heart is,
In his steps he never slips.” ~ Psalm 37:3a, 5, 7a, 23, 26, 31
It is a delightful thing to be able to accept as right the humiliation and shame I often feel over each specific instance when I have doubted the compassionate, uncreated creator of all things who chooses to be with and redeem the likes of me. “What is the man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8). “You stoop down to make me great.” (Psalm 18).
“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” ~ 1 Peter 2:21
By the LORD the just are rescued;
He’s their strength in troubled days.” ~ Psalm 37:39
“Enjoy the LORD and He will give
Your heart’s desire to you.” ~ Psalm 37:4
Engage and grow together!
“Iron sharpens iron,
and one man sharpens another.” ~ Proverbs 27:17
December 12, 2025
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