We continue our series on the commands of Jesus Christ. This week, we come to a command that sustains all the others: the command to pray and never give up.
In Luke 18:1, Jesus told His disciples a parable “to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”
The parable was about a persistent widow who kept coming to an unjust judge, demanding justice. The judge did not fear God or care about people. But because the widow kept bothering him, he finally gave her justice.
Jesus said, “And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night?” (Luke 18:7).
The point is not that God is like the unjust judge. The point is that if even an unjust judge responds to persistence, how much more will our loving Father respond to His children who keep praying?
First, persistent prayer is an act of faith.
Why do we give up praying? Often because we do not see immediate results.
We pray for healing and the sickness continues. We pray for a prodigal child and they remain far from God. We pray for provision and the bills keep piling up. And so we stop praying. We conclude that prayer does not work. But Jesus says, “Pray and do not lose heart.”
Persistent prayer is not about convincing God to do what we want. It is about aligning our hearts with His will. It is about trusting that He hears, even when we cannot see. It is about believing that He is working, even when nothing seems to change.
Second, persistent prayer is answered in God’s perfect timing.
God’s delays are not God’s denials. Sometimes He waits because He is doing something deeper in us. Sometimes He waits because the timing is not yet right. Sometimes He waits because the answer is different from what we expected. But God always answers.
Are you tired of praying? Have you lost heart? Have you stopped bringing your requests to God?
Jesus says, “Pray and do not give up.” The answer may be delayed. The answer may be different. But the answer is coming. Keep praying. Keep trusting. Keep waiting. The One who hears is faithful, and God will not ignore the cries of His children. | NWI
