In II Samuel 12, God told David that his son would die. Like any loving parent, David wanted his son to live and prayed that God would spare him. He fasted and prayed for seven days and then the child died. God did not heal the him as David asked in prayer. Essentially, God said “No, your child will not live.”
How did David respond when God said “No”? How should we respond when God says “No”?
First, when David heard that God did not chose to heal the child and his son was with the Lord, David rose up from fasting and praying, washed and anointed himself, went home and had something to eat.
In other words, he continued on with his life even though God did not answer his prayer like he hoped God would. He did not sulk, reach for a gallon of cookie dough ice cream and a ladle and watch an Andy Griffith marathon.
When God makes it clear that he’s not going to answer your prayer just the way you want it, don’t let yourself go; rise up and move on with life following the Lord’s leading.
Second, David worshipped the God that did not answer his prayer as he desired. He didn’t get angry with God, he didn’t stop believing in God, he continued to trust the Lord and give God praise. When your prayers are not answered, don’t blame God, trust in Him. Why chose to get angry with God? What good does that do? God doesn’t desire you to do that. If you let yourself get angry at God for not answering your prayer and forsake the Lord, the Devil is the only one that wins.
Notice also that David didn’t decided he needed to take time off from worshipping the Lord to figure out what to do next. On the contrary, he realized a great need to praise God for the Lord’s sovereignty in his life.
Third, David’s servants did not understand his walk with the Lord – praying when the child was alive, but not praying when he was dead. Don’t require and don’t expect others to understand a faithful walk with the Lord.
Fourth, David did not become selfish and withdraw from his family. That child that died was also Bathsheeba’s. It’s one thing for a father to lose a seven-day-old baby, but far more difficult for a mother. She was distraught and he comforted her.
If David chose to sulk, have a pity party and watch Andy Griffith all day, he would have no time or interest in comforting his wife during that time of grieving. Even though David didn’t get what he prayed for, he continued on with life, thinking about others.
David consoled Bathsheeba, but who consoled David? No one. David only had the Lord to lean on. And so it is for many a husband/father that needs to be strong in the Lord themselves in order to be a comfort and encouragement to the rest of the family. After seven days of prayer and fasting, David had the quiet strength to be an asset to his family, rather than a selfish and sulking liability.
Next time God says "no", remember the example of David.