Praying with persistence

And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?  Luke 18:7

There are three short encouragements to keep praying that flow from Jesus’ story of the persistent widow who kept appealing to a judge to settle in her favor. As Jesus brings application, He encourages us to keep praying. Here are three reasons why:

1. God gives justice because of His unique relationship with His people. We are His “elect” — His called out people. He has a purpose for us — to bring Him glory as He works in us and saves us. He will never forget nor neglect us because we are chosen for His glory and He displays that in doing good for us. He will bring justice in His way, in His time, for His people, for His glory.

2. We keep praying while waiting. Jesus reminds us to keep our prayers for God to work on our behalf flowing from our hearts fervently before the throne day and night. He knows our hurts. He sees our sorrows. He feels our suffering. And God will bring His strength and healing as His will is worked in our longsuffering. We must keep crying to Him.

3. God does not delay. His actions flow purely from His mercy, grace, and wisdom. His timing is perfect. Any perceived delay on our part is purely our human impatience. God does perfect work in perfect timing. He has reasons for our waiting. He has purposes in our petitioning. He builds in us an eternal glory not limited by our time-bound false urgencies.

And so we pray, knowing we are His people and He hears us. We wait. We believe. And He does not withhold, but blesses in His perfect way and perfect time.