Desires unfulfilled?

Something has been weighing on my mind for a while... Some folks like to use the following verse when God blesses them with some answer to prayer they have been seeking:

“He will fulfill the desire of them who fear Him” (Psalm 145:19a).

This is a lovely truth, and I have it underlined in my Bible. But here is the problem: if someone uses this verse in a “cause and effect” context for a particular blessing that he or she has received received, it can come across as, “See, I’ve trusted, feared, and obeyed the Lord, and I got what I wanted. If you haven’t gotten what you want, you must not be fearing God as sincerely as I have been.” A slap in the face. Something Job’s friends might have said.

Truly, some will trust, fear, and obey God for their entire life without having their heart’s desire fulfilled—here on earth, that is. When we see our Saviour face to face, all our tears will be wiped away and our deepest longings will be satisfied. That is the ultimate fulfillment of our heart’s desire.

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
(1 Peter 1:6-9; James 1:12; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; James 5:11; James 5:7-8; Philippians 1:6; Colossians 3:1-4; 1 Peter 5:6-10; Jude 24-25)