Every child of God has struggled at one time or another with “unanswered” prayer. I know in my own life there have been times when I’ve prayed and prayed with regard to some specific burden, but it seems as if my prayers have gone unheard. When this occurs discouragement begins to take hold, and we are sorely tempted to just give up. Jesus understood this dilemma and used a parable to shed light from the throne room of heaven in this matter. Our Lord frequently used parables, earthly stories with heavenly meanings, to teach eternal verities. In this case, however, he explained the very purpose of the parable so that there would be no confusion as to its intent.
“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: and there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he [the judge] would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me” (Luke 18:1-5). This widow had no merits before the judge. Nothing is known of her case. She had no advocate to speak for her. Her only recourse was persistence. We are told that she troubled the judge by her “continual coming.”
It is evident from the parable that the judge’s only interest in acting on the widow’s behalf was his own selfishness. We are told, plainly, he was “weary” with her repeated appearances before him. He gave relief simply to rid her from his docket. His behavior was despicable in the circumstances of the parable, and it is this behavior that our Lord draws to our attention. “And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith” (Luke 18:6). Specifically, our Savior intends to draw a contrast between the behavior of this unjust judge, specifically his motivation, and that of our heavenly Father. Jesus adds, “And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily” (Luke 18:7-8). Therein lies the lesson for us, God’s children, who wait at his throne.
How different is the motivation of our heavenly Father! Child of God, our heavenly Father delights to hear our prayers and is not just willing to hear and answer them, but is actually eager to do so. He is not disinterested in those matters that burden our hearts and compel us to the throne of grace. Yes, our Father may often “bear long” with his children in their prayers, but this accomplishes his perfect will in the matter which is always best. Sometimes our prayers may seem to be sitting idly on a shelf when in reality they are simply waiting for the right, even perfect, circumstances to unfold. Once those circumstances are met our Father “speedily” dispatches those answers. We may have abandoned our requests, even forgotten them, but our heavenly Father never does!
As the parable teaches, we ought always to pray and not to faint. We must persevere in our prayers for the Lord is at work on our behalf. Don’t give up!
From the Chaplain 