Persevering in Prayer

“And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.” (Luke 18:1)

Luke places this parable right after Jesus’ teaching on the coming of the kingdom (Luke 17:20-37). That placement is intentional. Jesus knows that between the promise of the kingdom and its full arrival there will be long stretches of waiting. Some of our deepest prayers for healing, justice and reconciliation will not be answered overnight. So he gives us this parable of a widow before an unjust judge as a picture of faithful, persevering prayer.

At first glance the story can be surprising. Up to this point in the Gospel Jesus has healed lepers instantly, calmed storms with a word and raised the dead. And it is still true today that Jesus answers some prayers immediately. We have all heard stories of sudden provision, miraculous healing or unexpected breakthrough. Yet in this parable Jesus prepares his disciples for another kind of experience. In this life we will often find ourselves waiting like the widow.

In Scripture, we see that prayer is God’s appointed means by which he accomplishes his purposes. He invites his children to participate in his work. Our petitions are real, our cries are heard, and God responds in his wisdom and timing. Sometimes his answer is “yes,” sometimes “no,” and sometimes “later,” but his answer always flows from perfect wisdom and love. God always hears.

Notice two things about the widow. First, she keeps coming. Her persistence shows that prayer is an act of faith, trusting God’s goodness even when the answer is delayed. Second, she comes to a judge who is unjust but Jesus immediately contrasts this with our heavenly Father. If even an unrighteous judge eventually does the right thing, how much more will your Father in heaven bring justice to his elect who cry to him day and night.

Jesus ends with a searching question. “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” In other words, will he find people still praying, still waiting and still trusting? Persistent prayer is a form of faith. It is living today as though God’s promised future is true even when present circumstances seem to contradict it.