Jesus uses this parable to encourage us always to pray and not give up, even when the circumstances are dire. If an unjust judge will eventually act because of the persistence of a poor, defenseless widow, how much more will God, who is not like the uncaring, unrighteous judge, but is merciful, patient, and eager to assist us in all things, act on our behalf. Jesus contrasts the way of the world with the way of God's grace. "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?"

How is your faith? Faith is like spiritual energy. When it is strong, we are buoyed along the crests of the waves of the storms that burst upon us. When it is weak, we sink low in the troughs of the waves and fear drowning. Physical energy comes and goes according to our health. When we are fighting infections we feel sluggish and useless. Only time and rest for healing can restore us to full strength again. It takes time and patience for faith to restore our spiritual vitality. We have to fight the temptation to give up and succumb to the tide of bad news that discourages us.

Jesus encourages us to always pray and not give up. St. Chrysostom describes prayer as the medicine expelling spiritual sicknesses - the foundation of the spiritual building - that is to the soul which the nerves are to the body. The man without prayer is as the fish out of water and gasping for life - as a city without walls, and open to all assaults; - but from him that is armed with prayer the tempter starts back, as midnight robbers start back when they see a sword suspended over a soldier's bed. The colorful analogies underline the essential nature of prayer. No matter what the circumstances of life we are always to pray and not give up. No matter how long the personal distress and injustice may be we are always to pray and not give up.

God will not let us down. He has a plan for us to fulfill. Before the foundations of the world were laid God had an everlasting purpose for our lives, to deliver us from evil, to eventually, by God's mercy, attain to everlasting happiness. But in the meantime we are called to live in an unjust and unfair world where we will suffer many things. Deliverance from life's problems does not come as soon as we want it. But we may be certain that God will act on our behalf. Will God hear us and answer our prayers? Certainly. But Jesus asks. "When he does, will we be found faithful?"

How urgently do you pray for God to act your behalf? In Acts 4:23-31 the early Christians prayed that God would enable them to fulfill what they had been called to do, even in the face of fierce opposition. They prayed for vindication, that God would manifest his presence powerfully through their ministry. "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." Their prayer was answered. "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." That is my prayer for our ministry.

The example of the widow convicts me. How committed am I to pray? How persistent am I in my prayers? What sort of a priority does prayer have for me? How do I approach God in prayer? Do I run through a laundry list of names and issues that I want to pray about and then go on to the next thing? How much do I care about the people for whom I pray? How complacent am I in my prayers? Is prayer a matter of life and death for me? What sort of expectations do I have in my prayers? What is my desire? Is it merely a simply wish; is it a deep-seated craving; is it an intense longing, for attainment? Do I make it my business, my focus, to pray, as much as this widow did? If not, do I lack depth and sincerity as to what I believe about prayer? God despises insincerity and lukewarmness. Prayer is not the rehearsal of a mere performance; nor is it vain repetition. It is urgent, tenacious, that pleads and persists at the throne of grace, and refuses to let go until the answer is given.

Lord, I cannot let you go,
Till a blessing you bestow;
Do not turn away your face;
Mine's an urgent, pressing case

It is this singleness of desire which clamors to be satisfied. Prayer is not a stereotyped expression of set phrases memorized long ago. It is motivated by a deep sense of need and a belief that God can meet that need. Pray as though your life depended on it. Pray as though the lives of those for whom you pray depended on it. Pray as though your prayers were an essential element in the fulfilling of God's will and the forwarding of God's kingdom.

Pray even though it seems as if nothing will change. God has promised justice. He is able to do immeasurably more that all we ask or imagine according to his power that is at work within us. He wants to work through us, to accomplish his will through our prayers. He requires men and women of faith who believe in the power of prayer and are willing to persist in prayer despite discouragement and disappointment. We are not to let tragedy or trials to stop us praying or from believing that God will hear our prayers. We are not to believe that God is like an unjust judge who is indifferent to our needs. He is our loving, heavenly Father who loves to answer our prayers and promises to do so in accordance with his will. We must resist losing faith in God, or being tempted to give up praying. God is working out his purposes for us through our prayers. We do not know what that purpose may be, that is why faith is required. We must trust in God to answer our prayers in his way.

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