David arose…and worshipped

So David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate. – 2 Samuel 12v20

David’s son was dead. His death was a part of the punishment for David’s sin with Bathsheba. The child became ill shortly after birth. When he did David went apart to fast and pray for his healing.

But it ‘didn’t work.’ The child died.

We might think that God did not answer David’s prayer. David did not get what he wanted. Everyone was afraid to tell him what had happened, but eventually he found out.

So how did David respond to the news?

He didn’t whinge and complain that God didn’t answer his prayer. He got up, got himself sorted, and then he went to worship. He took comfort in the fact that he would see his son one day and ‘got back in the saddle.’

I think we see here an example of how we should respond to disappointment. It does us no good to feel sorry for ourselves, the get angry with God, or take it out on those around us.

There is only one right response to disappointment with prayer. We get up, dust ourselves off, and get back to worship.

Our God with worthy of that response.