Devotionals
God Honors Persistent Prayer
June 2, 2017 | Tags: Faith, Persistence, Prayer
Will not God grant justice to His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay to help them? I tell you that He will swiftly grant them justice.
-Luke 18:7-8
Is there something you’ve been praying for and have yet to receive God’s response? In the Parable of the Persistent Widow, found in Luke 18, Jesus tell us God’s perspective on the prayers of His people:
He then told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not become discouraged: 2 “There was a judge in a certain town who didn’t fear God or respect man. 3 And a widow in that town kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’
4 “For a while he was unwilling, but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice, so she doesn’t wear me out by her persistent coming.’”
6 Then the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 Will not God grant justice to His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay to help them? 8 I tell you that He will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find that faith on earth?”
Jesus is telling us He is nothing like the unjust judge. He is the Righteous Judge who cares deeply about the concerns of His children who cry out to Him day and night. The unjust judge didn’t care about people or God, and yet, he granted the widow what she wanted because he was tired of her pestering. How much more will God grant what we are asking, who loves us more than we can understand or imagine?
When we pray according to the will of God, we can rest in faith that God will answer our prayers. We are to keep praying and keep entrusting our deepest concerns, feelings, and frustrations to a merciful, compassionate God who longs to reach out to us in our time of need. He will never grow tired of hearing us cry out to Him. On the contrary, crying out to Him over and over again will fill us with peace as we entrust ourselves into the hands of our Heavenly Father. He has all the power to overcome even the most impossible circumstances.
Beloved, don’t give up on your prayers, and don’t allow yourself to be discouraged. God hears you, and He longs for you to keep asking. He is always working, even if you cannot see it. He honors those who persist in their prayers. He is in control and His answer will come in His time and in His way. We can trust Him because of His goodness and His faithful love, which endures forever.
By Courtney Silberman
