We’ve all felt it—watching someone who blatantly rejects God somehow succeed, and wondering, Why do good things happen to bad people? It’s a question that shows up often in Scripture, and David wrestles with it here.
I imagine David reflecting on his years of exile—hiding in caves while Saul, who had long since turned his back on God, continued to reign as king. It must have been hard not to grow bitter. Saul lived in luxury; David lived on the run. Saul had a crown; David had a calling—but no kingdom.
Yet David doesn’t let jealousy win. He reminds himself—and us—that those who reject God may prosper for a season, but their success is short-lived. “Do not fret because of those who are evil,” he writes. “Trust in the Lord and do good… be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him” (Psalm 37:1, 3, 7).
The righteous may not always get the spotlight here, but eternity tells a different story. God sees. God knows. And God rewards those who walk with Him. David learned that firsthand when the kingdom was eventually delivered into his hands—not because he fought for it, but because he trusted for it.
So today, if you find yourself envying those who seem to thrive while ignoring God, take a breath. Be patient. Don’t let temporary circumstances shake eternal truths. Trust the Lord. In the end, He makes all things right.