Our grand dog “Sadie,” a yellow lab, is the most tenacious and persistent dog I have ever seen and I am a good judge of dogs. I love dogs and have been the proud owner of many including our own yellow lab, Daisy, who has never acted with the persistence that Sadie has.
Just the other Saturday morning when I was keeping Sadie, for one hour she literally would NOT STOP bugging me to throw the ball with her. This was after I opened our front door at 5:30 a.m. and used a tennis racket to hit a tennis ball so that it would roll down our long street and make her run her legs off after it. We did this for 30 minutes until her breathing was so labored I thought she might keel over with a heart attack.
I shut the front door and then sat in my chair for quiet time, reading and writing hoping she would sit down and go to sleep. Instead, I heard her go to the toilet in our guest bathroom and drink it dry. The next thing I knew she was bringing me the ball again and this time was loud and panting and passing gas. It was so annoying. I finally had to go back to the front door for more “fetch.”
As funny as this sounds, and remember I don’t believe in coincidences, just guess where I was reading in scripture that same morning? John 18:1-18 which is the parable about the “persistent widow!” This is a story Jesus told about a widow who needed help. The judge in the parable did not fear God, nor did he care about people. He did not live by the laws that govern righteous and moral conduct.
But, the widow must have been strong. We know this because she was persistent. She kept going to the judge and asking for justice against an adversary. Even though the judge did not care about her or about keeping God’s laws, he finally gave her justice because he was afraid that she would wear him out with her persistence.
There is a very valuable lesson here for all of us…with persistence in prayer. Any of us could be that widow. Have you felt helpless and alone when facing trouble over which you have no control?
Jesus told the disciples this parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. I don’t know about you, but there are several things going on in my life which are completely out of my control. Things that, If I could change them, I would….but…God has specifically taken these situations and wants me to be the “persistent widow”. Why? Probably for many reasons. Maybe…
to teach me He is God and I am not.
because it keeps me leaning into Him.
it keeps me diligent to watch His hand working out all things for good (builds my God-fidence).
it keeps me persistently praying and seeking Him.
it is teaching me His timing is perfect…
And, that He is not on my timeframe…teaching me patience. When He does move on a particular persistent prayer request that I have had, I have seen HIS GREATER GOOD AND PLAN working not just in my life but, in the lives of others.
What do you need to keep asking God for today? What or Who do you need to be persistently praying for? God hears every prayer. Nothing gets by HIM. Be persistent. And remember, the length of our day…is not the same length as His.
Romans 12:12, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”