Then Jesus told them a parable to show them they should always pray and not lose heart. — Luke 18:1 NET
There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’
Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
— Jesus
Tammerlane used to relate to his friends an anecdote of his early life. “I once” he said, “was forced to take shelter from my enemies in a ruined building, where I sat alone many hours. Desiring to divert my mind from my hopeless condition, I fixed my eyes on an ant that was carrying a grain of corn larger than itself up a high wall. I numbered the efforts it made to accomplish this object. The grain fell sixty-nine times to the ground; but the insect persevered, and the seventieth time it reached the top. This sight gave me courage at the moment, and I never forgot the lesson.”
— The King’s Business
Prayer which takes the fact that past prayers have not been answered as a reason for languor, has already ceased to be the prayer of faith. To the prayer of faith the fact that prayers remain unanswered is only evidence that the moment of the answer is so much nearer. From first to last, the lessons and examples of our Lord all tell us that prayer which cannot persevere and urge its plea importunately, and renew, and renew itself again, and gather strength from every past petition, is not the prayer that will prevail.
— William Arthur
"Though He bears long with them... yet He will answer them speedily." Therein is the paradox of kingdom prayer, and herein is highest faith. As MacDonald puts it, the hardest, gladdest thing in the universe is when the child of God, heart full of ache and apparent silence, yet cries out, "Abba, Father!" Hell trembles before this faith. And the heart of the Father smiles: He takes pleasure in those who trust Him in waiting faith (Ps. 147:11).
Prayer: Thank you, Abba, that you bear long with me. And thank you, that when you have accomplished that for which you bear long, you will answer speedily — yea, and you are answering this very moment! You are Holy, you are Good, and you are Love. Thank you that you will remake me in this Holy Love, and make me good, even as I wait on you. Your Grace is Amazing. Alleluia!
