Luke 18:7-8 “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? 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?”

Luke 18 verses 1 to 8 records a parable which Jesus told to his disciples to emphasize the need for consistent, persistent prayer. There have been times when I tell myself that God is not deaf and therefore I should not keep pestering him with the same requests in prayer. But here in this passage Jesus tells his disciples that that is exactly what they need to do sometimes.

Jesus uses a natural circumstance to illustrate the posture we should take. The widow in the parable had issues and felt that she was unfairly treated and the only person who had the power to change the situation was this judge even though he had a bad reputation. Nevertheless, she was determined to get him to act.

I had been part of a prayer circle for several months for a member of our Sunday School class who was very ill at the time. Just over a year ago, the doctors printed out a report about the results of her most recent tests. There was not a shred of hope in that report, and looking at her I could only come to the conclusion that if God did not raise her up, she would succumb to her illness.  The widening prayer circle included our pastor and church family and we came face to face with the reality that God was the only one who could do the impossible. When another urgent call came for prayer, I remember saying “God I know I am beginning to sound like the persistent widow, but please do something.”

God is not unjust and he defines who we are to him: “his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night.” He is righteous and he defends his own name. Prayer is one of the ways we express our faith in God to do the impossible. Thus Paul, in writing to the believers in Thessalonica urged them: “Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Our prayer circle broke out in praise when this lady was raised up and sent home.  I personally stand amazed and overwhelmed with joy every time I see her smiling face.