There never was any petition really presented to the Lord without a gracious answer. When the Lord prayed at Gethsemane, the cup was not removed, but there was a gracious answer,
“There appeared an angel from heaven, strengthening Him.” The Lord had said,
“Father, if Thou be willing, let this cup pass from Me (He felt it fully): nevertheless not My will, but Thine, be done.” (Luke 22:42).
When the Lord prayed He put in “not My will.” Paul did not put that in; Paul said,
“Take away this thorn, take it away—take it away,” but the Lord’s will was that Paul should have that thorn, and the gracious answer was,
“My grace is sufficient for thee: My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:8, 9). Paul was strengthened from heaven.
To my mind Moses’ sister (Ex. 2), is a perfect vignette of prayer: the babe committed to God—she watches. There will be an answer; watch Him for it—she watched unto praying, and prayed unto watching.
In praying for the Lord’s people, His concerns, and plans, if the Lord does not grant our petitions, He will at least say, as He did to David,
“It is well it was in thine heart to pray unto Me.” (1 Kings 8:18).
The time for granting the full answer may not have come, yet He will say, “It was well.”
Sometimes when people persevere in praying for things which the Lord in mercy has long withheld, He gives them their request, and they find it is to their great sorrow, but He always replies to prayer.
“Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” (Heb. 11:6).