Major life transitions can be emotional, confusing, and overwhelming. But have you noticed that they can also be poignant times for reflection? In today’s Scripture, the great King David was in transition. He reflected back on the adrenaline-filled years of military confrontations and then forward into an unfamiliar but pleasant future of peace. David considered his merciful God who granted him every victory and wanted to show reverence to him in a big way.

I imagine David also considered the legacy he hoped to leave for his children and the rest of God’s people. How could he better focus his people’s eyes on the One who is so faithful and filled with love? That’s it! A magnificent temple would accomplish it all. After all, David reasoned, why should he get to live in a palace while the Lord had only a tent? Yes, he would build God a beautiful place of worship.

David had the motivation, the plan, and the means. The prophet Nathan even agreed and encouraged him to do what was in his heart.

Then God said no.

Huh?!

Nathan came back to David with that “no” message in our text, informing David that it would not be his job but rather his son’s life’s work to build the temple.

Why did God close the door on David’s beautiful gesture? Ouch! David’s newfound purpose in life came to an abrupt stop.

It can help to zoom out a bit and consider the big-picture plan of salvation from the Garden of Eden to the empty tomb. It can help to remember for whom God’s Old Testament children were so desperately hoping and waiting. It can help to remember why Jesus, a thousand years after David, taught us to pray: “Not my will, but yours be done.”

If our holy, loving, and faithful Father says no, even when it initially stings, we join our will to his and say, “That’s actually what I want, too.” In David’s case, this meant letting go of his grand desire to build a physical structure for God and joining step with God’s desire to use David’s family line to bring the ultimate hope and salvation into the world. Zoomed out, we see how much greater of a legacy that is. Jesus would change the outcome of our eternity.

When God said “no” to David’s plan to build a temple, David’s hands were stilled, his hustle for the Lord was halted, and his heart was focused on what God would do for him rather than the other way around. It really was the best answer from the best God.