Psalm 40

Trusting, Delighting, and Remembering: A Journey Through Psalm 40

Spending time in the Psalms together has been a gift. We’ve come away not only learning more about God but also enjoying His presence in fresh and life-giving ways. Today, as we dwell in Psalm 40, we find encouragement, conviction, and comfort. This psalm reminds us where to place our trust, how to delight in God, and the importance of remembering His faithfulness.

Where Are We Placing Our Trust?

Verse 4 hit us with a question we all need to wrestle with: "Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods." It made us pause and ask—where do we really place our trust? Is it in God, or in our job, our health, our family, or our plans for the weekend?

We were challenged by the realization that we often run to others—our spouses, friends, bosses—before turning to the Lord. David is reminding us here: there’s blessing in trusting God first and foremost. He’s the only one who is truly steady, who doesn’t disappoint, and who leads us in perfect wisdom.

A Deeper Offering: Obedience Over Sacrifice

Another verse that stood out was verse 6: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—but my ears you have opened.” David is giving us a glimpse of something deeper than ritual—a hint of the new covenant. Even while living under the old system of animal sacrifices, he sees that God is after something more intimate: a listening heart and a life surrendered.

This isn’t about checking spiritual boxes; it’s about relationship. God wants our obedience, our availability, our lives. It reminded us of what we read in Hebrews, about being living sacrifices. It’s not about what we can do for God, but whether we’re willing to walk with Him, to hear Him, and to follow Him with our whole selves.

When We Delight in God, Our Desires Change

Psalm 40:8 echoes something we just saw in Psalm 37: “I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.” There’s a theme running through both chapters: delighting in the Lord. And when we do, our desires begin to change.

It’s not about asking for more stuff—like a raise, a vacation, or even a Ferrari—but about wanting more of Him. We begin to desire healing, restoration, and for people far from God to know how deeply they are loved. As we seek His kingdom first, as Jesus says in Matthew 6:33, everything else falls into place. Not always how we expect, but always in the way we need.

Remembering God’s Faithfulness

One of the most powerful takeaways from Psalm 40 is the importance of remembering. The psalm starts with thanksgiving, shifts to lament, and ends again in praise. It’s a "praise sandwich," as we like to call it. David doesn’t sugarcoat the hard stuff, but he always circles back to who God is and what He’s done.

That practice of remembering? It's essential for us too. We’ve been inspired by some of you who have created tangible reminders of God’s faithfulness—like writing Scripture and meaningful words on a rock during a season of uncertainty and keeping it visible as a daily reminder of His presence. Others of you keep journals or note tabs full of answered prayers and miracles. These aren’t just keepsakes—they’re spiritual lifelines.

We’ve seen this in our own lives too. Looking back over nearly a decade of marriage, we’re amazed at what God has done—things we forgot until we reminded each other. And those stories? They build our faith and strengthen our trust.

So today, we ask ourselves—and we ask you:
Where are we placing our trust?
What are we truly delighting in?
And how are we remembering God’s faithfulness?

Psalm 40 invites us to lean in, to listen, to trust, and to remember. Life may be full of ups and downs, but God remains faithful. And that’s reason enough to keep praising.