The Place of Persistence (1)

And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth? - Luke 18:7-8

Persistence means doggedness, perseverance continuous pursuit or prosecution of a goal, an enterprise or endeavour, even when the tide seems unfavourable. Our Lord Jesus told a parable or story illustrating the necessity of persevering when prayer is not answered immediately. The story is told in the eighteenth chapter of the gospel of Luke.

This story indicates the woman repeatedly pestered the judge beyond endurance. She did not change the picture of vindication in her mind, so she kept coming. The wicked judge tolerated her pestering for so long until her trouble broke his will to endure. The judge concluded that he would never have any more peace until he granted her request.

Jesus was not comparing but contrasting the wicked judge with our heavenly father, who is the most merciful God. If an unjust, callous, natural judge eventually listens to the widow, how much more quickly or speedily will a caring loving God respond to any of His own.

If godless judges respond to constant pressure, then we are assured that our great and loving God will answer us. Abraham understood this reasoning and employed the principle as he interceded for Sodom in the days of its divine visitation (see Genesis 18:23-25).

When we live by faith, we are not to give up. Persisting in prayer and not giving up does not mean endless repetition or long prayer sessions. Constant prayer means keeping our requests continually before God as we live for him every day, believing he will answer and honour our faith. Delay is not denial for every delay always has good reasons behind it. If there is nothing to gain, the Lord will never allow it, for he hastens his words to perform them. As we persist in prayer, we grow in character, faith, and hope. In the book of Hebrew, we are told there is a place of patience before seeing the manifestation, in as much as we are sure of the Lord's will. Persistence mixed with patience always delivers (see Hebrew 10:36).