He then told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not become discouraged…
My middle name is Discouraged. My resolve is short lived (which is really a bit oxymoronic). My practice of prayer certainly doesn’t seem to reach the level of being called a ‘life’. I hear people talk about their ‘prayer life’ and talk about participating in ‘prayer walks’ and I’m afraid my prayer life is on its sick bed and my walks are more like a sprint. It often seems my fleeting prayers are lifeless and lend themselves to sitting not walking. The mystery of prayer is deep and getting deeper in my life. The only thing I regularly associate with my prayers is a nagging sense of personal pride in my priggish self and a deep sense of failure in my walk of faith.
Prayer is a discipline that has always eluded me and therefore I have great angst when I read this passage. ‘The need for them to pray always…..’. Something about prayer leads me away from this perspective. I pray from beginning to end. Then, I am finished praying. Honestly, I don’t really spend much time looking for answers. I simply move on and give thanks that the Creator of the Universe was willing to listen. Paul enjoined us to pray without ceasing. How would one even do that? Considering my ever increasing verbosity, maybe it is possible. The object of my talk needs to be adjusted. Discipline truly does need to be applied.
In spite of all of my personal wondering and wandering regarding prayer, the principles in this passage are clear and direct.
1. Injustice requires persistent prayer. We must continue to pray.
Jesus set aside specific times for prayer and even spent the night in prayer with His Father.
2. There is something both powerful and effective in persistent prayer.
This widow is asking and asking and asking to the point that this one who implements justice yields. He changes his mind because of this simple woman’s pleading. Personally, I cannot imagine changing God’s mind. Such resolve. Such persistence. Such boldness.
3. Father God grows weary of injustice. He cares.
God’s is not an unjust judge. In Jesus’ illustration we see an unjust judge moved to justice through persistent requests. Imagine how much more moved is the Just Judge of the universe when His children are treated unfairly? This is Jesus’ key point. ‘O yes He cares. I know He cares.’ He is the Judge who perfectly balances love and justice.
4. He will act.
The timeframe of action is His. The resolution is His. His perspective is from eternity. He is faithful. He is loving. He is kind. He is just. He can be trusted.
Knowing all of this, is it too much for Him to expect us to endure in our faith? Can we hold on and trust Him when injustice is rampant? When our leaders are corrupt? When our spiritual guides betray us? When our friends are unfair? When the events of life seem stacked against us? When everything else fails?
This is a faithful saying:
For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him.
If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him,
He also will deny us.
If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself. 2 Timothy 2.11-13
We can. Keep the Faith.
Ventanas 