Psalm 37

Trusting God in the Storm: A Journey Through Psalm 37

By Rob Riesmeyer, Elder

When Everything Feels Against You

There was a season in my life when it felt like the walls were closing in. I wasn’t being hunted down or facing any physical danger, but emotionally, I was drowning. Friends had turned cold. Colleagues misunderstood me. Projects I’d poured heart and soul into unraveled. I walked through days heavy with defeat and nights haunted by discouragement. And as a man of faith, the most challenging part wasn’t the external chaos—it was the creeping doubt whispering, “Where is God in all of this?”

During one of those low moments, my wife Linda, quietly handed me my Bible and said, “Read Psalm 37. Then pray.”

It wasn’t a grand gesture. It didn’t come with theological commentary or polished encouragement. Just a gentle nudge back to the truth. And that Psalm—God’s very Word—became my lifeline.

Whether you’re a lifelong believer or someone still searching for answers, Psalm 37 speaks to a universal ache: how do we respond when life feels unfair, when it seems like the wicked are winning, and the faithful are forgotten?

Let’s read Psalm 37 together, not just as an ancient poem but as a living message of trust, timing, and eternal hope.

Psalm 37: Trust When the Wicked Seem to Win

"Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!"—Psalm 37:1 (ESV)

From the first verse, Psalm 37 speaks into one of humanity’s oldest struggles—watching injustice go unchecked. Whether it’s corrupt leaders, slanderous gossip, or backstabbing colleagues, the Psalmist (David) urges us not to “fret.”

But this isn’t mere self-help advice. David isn’t saying, “Just calm down” or “Think positive.” Instead, he draws a sharp contrast between those who appear to flourish through evil and those who follow the Lord.

Because here’s the truth: success is not always a sign of God’s favor. And suffering is not always a sign of God’s absence.

The Call to Trust and Wait

"Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness."—Psalm 37:3

In those darker seasons, trusting God felt like trying to see through fog. I wanted answers. I wanted justice. But Psalm 37 reminded me that God’s first call was not to fix it, but to trust Him.

This kind of trust isn’t passive. It’s not sitting on your hands while hoping everything magically improves. It’s active faith. It’s doing good when others do wrong. It’s staying faithful when you’re tempted to give up. It’s showing kindness when bitterness seems justified.

And in that trust, there is a promise:

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”—Psalm 37:4

Many have misunderstood that verse to mean that God will give us whatever we want. But that’s not the promise. David is saying this: if your heart is anchored in the Lord, then your desires will begin to align with His. And God never fails to satisfy those who delight in Him.

What About the Wicked?

“The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him, but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for He sees that his day is coming.”—Psalm 37:12-13

It may sound jarring, even a little harsh, but David reminds us that God sees everything. While we fret, ache for fairness, and wait, God is not blind to injustice. He is not indifferent. His justice may be delayed, but it is never denied.

As someone who once struggled to understand “why bad people seem to succeed,” this truth grounded me. Evil may look like it’s thriving for a time, but its roots are shallow. God will not let wickedness go unpunished forever.

An Invitation to the Non-Believer: There’s a Better Way

You may be reading this and thinking, "I’m not sure I believe any of this." And I get it. Life is hard. The world is messy. The idea that there’s a God out there who is good, just, and personal can feel far-fetched when your life feels anything but secure.

But here’s the heart of Psalm 37: you are invited into something deeper.

This Psalm isn’t just for those who already have faith but those weary from the world and desperate for something more. Something eternal.

Jesus offers that “something.” He is the ultimate fulfillment of the Psalmist’s words. When David writes, “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in His way” (v. 23), he’s pointing forward to a life shaped by the Gospel.

The Gospel in Psalm 37

The Gospel—the good news of Jesus Christ—runs underneath Psalm 37 like a quiet, unshakable stream.

Here’s what the Gospel says:

• You are not alone. The same God who inspired David to write this Psalm sees you now.

• You are not forgotten. Your hurt matters to Him. Your fears, your doubts—they don’t disqualify you.

• You are not too far gone. Jesus came not for the perfect, but for the broken. For those who know they need a Savior.

• You are invited—invited to trust, to surrender, and to receive forgiveness and new life through Jesus’ death and resurrection.

  
  

“The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.”—Psalm 37:39

Living the Psalm 37 Life

So what does it look like to live out Psalm 37?

It means:

• Choosing trust over panic. Even when you can’t see the outcome.

• Doing good instead of getting even. Even when you’ve been wronged.

• Feeding your faith, not your fear. Choosing prayer, Scripture, and community over cynicism and isolation.

• Waiting patiently for God’s justice. Not because you’re weak, but because you believe God is strong.

  
  

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way.”—Psalm 37:7

In our world—where social media rewards outrage and silence often feels like defeat—waiting patiently can feel foolish. But in God’s economy, it’s wisdom.

A Personal Reflection: From Pain to Peace

When I first read Psalm 37 that day—thanks to Linda’s gentle prompting—I didn’t feel an immediate transformation. My circumstances didn’t change overnight, and the people who had hurt me didn’t apologize. The weight didn’t lift instantly.

But what did happen was internal.

I was reminded that God saw me. He wasn’t asking me to fix everything, but to follow Him through it, to trust that He would bring justice in His way and in His time.

And slowly, that trust birthed peace.

Today, when I look back on that season, I don’t remember just the pain—I remember the Psalm. I remember the prayers. I remember the presence of God in my depression. And I want you to know that same presence is available to you.

The Final Promise: God Will Not Forsake You

“The Lord loves justice, He will not forsake His saints. They are preserved forever.”—Psalm 37:28

Whether you believe today or are still asking hard questions, you can build your life on this truth. God does not forsake His own. His love is not fragile. His promises are not hollow.

And through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, those promises extend to you.

An Invitation to Believe

If you’ve made it this far, maybe something inside you is stirring. Perhaps you’ve felt like everyone’s against you. Perhaps depression has haunted your nights. Perhaps you’ve wrestled with the injustice of this world and wondered if there’s anything more.

There is.

His name is Jesus.

He took your sin, bore your sorrow, and offers you a new way to live—not just someday, but now.

If you want to begin that journey, it starts with surrender. With a simple, honest prayer:

“Jesus, I need You. I’m tired of doing life on my own. Forgive my sins. Teach me to trust You. I believe you died and rose again to give me life. Help me follow You from this day forward. Amen.”

Closing Thoughts: Why Psalm 37 Still Matters

Psalm 37 is more than a comfort during hard times—it’s a call to trust, a roadmap to righteous living, and a whisper of God’s everlasting justice.

It’s what helped me find peace when the storm wouldn’t stop. And I pray it will guide you, whether you’ve walked with God for years or are just now wondering if He’s real.

He is. And He’s good.

Even when the wicked seem to win. Even when your heart is heavy, even when all you can do is whisper His name, He is there.

So don’t give up. Don’t fret. Don’t envy.

Trust in the Lord—and befriend faithfulness.