2 Samuel 12:20
“Then David got up from the ground, washed and anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they set food before him, and he ate.”
David is a great example for us in this action. He worshipped God in tragedies. Most wouldn't think to do this. His advisors certainly didn't expect it. They feared he may be suicidal.
This demonstrates his faith. Hebrews 11:6 has this to say about faith, "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him." David is grieving. He knows that God is and a rewarder of those that seek Him. He sinned and is seeing the consequences. This is a hurricane of bad news. Psalm 107:28-30 is a beautiful picture of what David is doing now, "Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He brought them out of their distresses. He caused the storm to be still, So that the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad because they were quiet, So He guided them to their desired harbor."
What do we do in tragedy? Some drink or resort to bad habits. It's understandable. David's advisors were fearing that he would do something harmful. David feared God and had cultivated the habit of going to God. We should practice that habit.
There are several practices to be done in going to God. One could pray, read the bible, worship, serve others, go to church, share their faith and so on. Any of those things are like "crying out to God in our trouble". These are all things that should be in our lives. They are feeding our faith and obeying God.
When we are born again, God gives us new hearts along with the desire to do these things. Most would consider these things as boring and obligatory. That's true of the unregenerate heart. However the redeemed heart craves these things. Psalm 42:1 says, "As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, God."
Romans 8:16 says, 'For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”' We want to pray. Like an infant cries our for the mother, so our hearts want God. We walk with Him all day. We pray to Him all day. We want to tell others about Him. We love to go to church to hear about Him. We also love the church as we see other believers there.
Like David, we seek God in tragedies. We also do it after we do wrong. We want to right it. Psalm 84:10 says, "For a day in Your courtyards is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God Than live in the tents of wickedness." We want to sit and wait.
Thank You God for You and Your house. Thank You that You've accepted us through Jesus. You've given us new hearts. Help us to stay in Your presence.