When the Answer is "No"

2 Samuel 12:15-23 ESV
15 Then Nathan went to his house.
And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and he became sick. 16 David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. 17 And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. 18 On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.” 19 But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.” 20 Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate. 21 Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” 22 He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ 23 But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

Though this is about David losing a child due to his sin, it still shows a wonderful attitude when approaching God with something that is heavy on our hearts. David was already told that this child was going to die as a result of his sin. David grieved; his heart was heavy. He implored his God and King for mercy - he wept and fasted. As soon as the child died, he knew that God's answer was "no." Instead of continuing to weep, he worshiped God.

We throw tantrums when we don't get a raise, when the car breaks down, when we don't get our way. "But I prayed about it," is what we tell ourselves, "so why is God ignoring me?" God is not ignoring you, He said "no." Why did He say no? Because He has your best interest in mind for you. So how do you respond? Worship Him. Praise Him for protecting you and maturing you even when you are not seeking these.

Follow David's example: until you get an answer, earnestly go before Him in prayer; when you get the answer, worship God regardless of the answer.