They should always pray and not give up. Luke 18:1
Mila, a baking assistant, felt too helpless to defend herself when her supervisor accused her of pilfering some raisin bread. The unfounded assertion and corresponding salary deduction were just two of many wrongful actions from her supervisor. “God, please help,” Mila prayed each day. “It’s so hard working under her, but I need this job.”
Jesus tells of a widow who also felt helpless and “sought justice against [her] adversary” (Luke 18:3). She turned to someone with the authority to resolve her case—a judge. Despite knowing that the judge was unjust, she persisted in approaching him.
The judge’s eventual response (vv. 4-5) is infinitely different from that of our heavenly Father, who quickly responds with love and help. If persistence could cause an unjust judge to take up a widow’s case, how much more can and will God, who is the just Judge, do for us (vv. 7-8)? We can trust Him “to bring about justice for his chosen ones” (v. 7) and being persistent in praying is one way of showing our trust. We persist because we have faith that God will respond in perfect wisdom to our situation.
Eventually, Mila’s supervisor resigned after other employees complained about her behavior. As we walk in obedience to God, let’s persist in praying, knowing the power of our prayers lies in the one who hears and helps us.
Luke 18:1-8
The Parable of the Persistent Widow
18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”
6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
INSIGHT
1. When have you felt like giving up on praying?
2. How can you reflect on God’s character as you pray?
The point of Jesus’ parable in Luke 18:1-8 is to emphasize the importance of being persistent in prayer. God isn’t like an unjust judge who gives in to our prayers out of sheer exasperation. In Greek, the phrase translated as “this widow keeps bothering me” (v. 5) is perhaps more literally translated as “she causes me trouble.” The picture painted here is one of persistence that interrupts the life and routines of another. It isn’t simply the idea of going to see this judge once a day; rather, the woman wouldn’t give the judge a moment’s peace. Her persistent request for justice interfered with his life. While our prayers don’t “interrupt” or “bother” God, Christ seems to be suggesting that we’re to steadfastly bring our requests to God. Because of our persistence and His character (vv. 6-8), He’ll take notice and respond.
PRAYER
Loving God, please remind me of who You are and help me to keep praying, no matter what. In Jesus name I pray and believe. Amen.
Read: Luke 18:1-8 | Bible in a Year: Lamentations 3-5; Hebrews 10:19-39
