Persist in Prayer
A group of four of us from Tremont Temple went to visit our brother David Sprauge, who was in a biking accident on Tuesday evening. He sustained a small puncture in one of his lungs and three broken ribs (you’re hereby invited to pray for his full recovery!) When we arrived at Tufts Medical, we were each given a visitor tag and sent up to the 4th floor. As we stood outside of the ward, I pressed the button with the camera and speaker just outside the doors. I requested that we see David, to which the woman cordially replied, “Visiting hours start at 11am.” It was 9:50. Each of us having somewhere to be—work or some other commitment—our hearts sunk as we accepted that we would not be able to see David at that time. All but one. Our brother Praé stepped forward, and to our surprise he rang the bell again. He explained the situation, requesting that the woman pass along our regards to David, and then he made the request that at least one of us be permitted to go in and see David before we left. To our even greater surprise, she said, “It’s okay, you may all come in for 5 minutes.” And just like that, by persistence we were permitted to enter in. Right away, I said to Praé, “You just taught me how to pray.” Everyone affirmed. I totally meant it! I had, as it were, prayed once, accepted the denial, and was ready to walk away. Jesus told a stunning parable carrying the same principle. It’s often called the Parable of the Persistent Widow. Here it is:
“And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” - Luke 18:1-8
It was a peculiar and poignant way for Jesus to make a point about prayer. The argument is from lesser to greater. The judge is described as unrighteous—Jesus either means that he’s not justified or simply that his life is marked by unrighteous deeds. Out of frustration at the constant knocking of the woman, he grants justice to her. Jesus’ argument is that if an unrighteous judge, whose motive after refusing the widow repeatedly is to give her what she wants to get her out of his hair, how much more is God willing to grant justice to his chosen people when they knock on the doors of heaven in prayer? The point is that God is willing to answer not only prayers for justice but every prayer that accords with his will. But his answers may not be automatic. It may take days, weeks, months, or years.
What is that you desire that accords with God’s revealed will (His Word)? Have you been like I was? Reluctant to approach God with it again? Learn from Praé and especially from Jesus’ parable, that though prayer may not be answered right away—God will answer every good prayer in His wise timing. Just don’t give up!
