In the context of warnings about being found ready when Jesus returns, Jesus exhorts his disciples to persevere in prayer. The widow in the parable seeks final justice (Cf, Revelation 6:10), precisely what Jesus will bring at his second coming. That she seeks it from an uncaring judge who nevertheless yields to her pleas serves to drive home the point: if even an uncaring judge will respond to persistent pleas, how much more will the loving God bring about the final vindication of his people. This persistence is an expression of faith. Jesus anticipates that many people will give up on God when things get hard. And indeed, when persecution came upon the church, many Christians did turn away from their faith. But many Christians persevered through the hardship and injustice. They stayed faithful, by praying faithfully. As a pastor I have seen more people give up on God than I can count. It is one of the greatest tragedies to behold. But I have also been deeply encouraged by those who remain persistently faithful through terrible hardship; who, like Job, wrestle with God in prayer through it all. The result is that, as they fix their hold on God, they also find that God has fixed his hold on them. This is the kind of triumph most celebrated in the New Testament. It is the triumph of those who persevere prayerfully through crippling disappointment, terrible injustice and severe hardship. Don’t ever let go of God. Stay faithful by praying faithfully.
Pray for a matter that you have prayed for before and that remains unanswered.
Read Luke 18:1-8
