Psalm 128:1-4 (NLT) says:
“How joyful are those who fear the Lord— all who follow his ways! You will enjoy the fruit of your labour. How joyful and prosperous you will be! Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine, flourishing within your home. Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees as they sit around your table. That is the Lord’s blessing for those who fear him.”
This Scripture speaks so powerfully to men, particularly about their role as spiritual leaders. It begins with the foundational truth: for a man to experience joy and prosperity, he must fear the Lord and walk in His ways. Reverence for God must be at the core of everything. You can’t approach God casually and expect to see this kind of fruit. True fear of the Lord brings alignment, purpose, and blessings.
This passage resonates with me because it reminds me of the life I dreamed of as a young girl. I didn’t have career aspirations or business ambitions. My vision for my life was to be a housewife—a mother, wife, and homemaker. I dreamed of supporting my husband in fulfilling his dreams, being his helper, and creating a home where love, faith, and hospitality thrived.
Why? That’s what I grew up seeing. My mother supported my father’s dreams, my grandmother supported my grandfather’s, and almost all my aunties supported their husbands in the same way. The women in my family weren’t career women; they were proper housewives who found fulfilment in nurturing their homes. One of my aunties was a career woman, but she was the exception, not the rule.
That’s the environment that shaped my view of marriage and family. I always knew I wanted to contribute to my home in meaningful ways, but I also firmly believed the man should be the breadwinner. Genesis shows us that God ordained for men to labour and eat from the sweat of their brow. A godly man who works hard and fears the Lord will eat the fruit of his labour, and as the Psalm says, such a man will be joyful and prosperous.
Have you ever met a truly joyful man? A man whose life radiates contentment and peace? I have. My grandfather was the happiest, most joyful man I’ve ever known. His smile was constant, and his life was marked by success and blessing in everything he did. Why? Because he feared the Lord and followed His ways.
The passage also paints a beautiful picture of what happens when a man takes his role seriously:
. His wife flourishes like a fruitful grapevine within their home.
. His children grow like vigorous olive trees around the table.
This is the Lord’s blessing for a man who fears Him. It’s a vision of a thriving family—a home filled with love, joy, and health.
It brings me back to the life I once envisioned. I dreamed of having five children—four of my own and one adopted. I wanted a home where laughter and faith were woven into every corner. Although my life looks different now, I still hold on to the promise that God gives good gifts to those who love Him.
I’ve also learned that as much as I dream and plan, I must surrender those plans to God. One prayer I often pray is that God will align my desires with His. I don’t want to long for anything outside His will because His plans are always better than mine.
I must also emphasise the importance of the man’s role as the priest of the home. As assertive and godly as I may be, I cannot take on the mantle of spiritual leadership. God designed men to lead their homes, and women to submit to that leadership in love and trust. It’s a divine order that brings harmony to the home.
I believe that in God’s perfect timing, He will grant me the desires of my heart. Until then, I’ll keep trusting Him, knowing that His ways are higher than mine.
On another note, I’ve been reflecting on soul ties recently. We often think of them as something tied to romantic relationships, but they can form in other ways—through emotional connections with parents, teachers, bosses, or even through gifts. Soul ties can be healthy or unhealthy, and it’s an important topic to understand. I’ll share more about this soon, along with some pastor’s notes on forgiveness and healing.
Psalm 128:1-4 reminds us of the beauty of God’s design for families and the blessings that come from living in reverence to Him. It paints a picture of a life marked by joy, prosperity, and flourishing relationships. But it also underscores a critical truth: these blessings are not accidental. They are tied to a life of fearing the Lord, walking in His ways, and aligning our hearts with His divine order.
For me, this passage is both a challenge and a promise. It challenges us to trust God’s blueprint rather than our own, to let Him build our lives in His timing and according to His plans. It promises that when we do so, our labour will not be in vain, and our homes will reflect His abundant goodness.
While life may not have unfolded as I once imagined, I see God’s hand weaving a story far more profound than anything I could have written. I choose to trust that He will complete the work He has started, fulfilling His promises in ways that exceed my understanding.
Whether you are in a season of waiting, building, or reaping, Psalm 128 offers hope: God’s blessings flow abundantly to those who honour Him. Let’s hold onto that hope, trust His process, and allow Him to shape our lives into something far greater than we could ever dream.
May we all strive to fear the Lord and walk in His ways, trusting Him to build our lives according to His perfect design.
Have a beautiful day. 🖤