The Hidden Yes in Every No

In the bracha of Shema Koleinu (acceptance of prayer) in Shemoneh Esrei we say ריקם אל תשיבנו, do not turn us away empty-handed. The simple meaning is that we are asking to have our tefillah accepted. A deeper meaning in these words is that even if what we daven for isn’t granted but we ask to have it done in other ways. For example, if the full healing we daven for on behalf of a sick person isn’t granted, please still send it in other ways. Maybe the illness remains, but he can still be granted a kind nurse or the pain can be lessened. Even when the big yes doesn’t come, we can still get answered in other ways.