Apples of Gold

How many times had she come? How far did she have to travel? How many people scoffed and encouraged her to give up? And yet, she kept coming. 

One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. There was a judge in a certain city, he said, who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy. The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, I don’t fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests. Luke 18:1-5

Okay, before my theologian friends jump in, I want to say that I realize this is a parable rather than an actual historical event. Presenting this as a parable versus an incident makes the lesson easily accessible to everyone. 

Knowing the tendency of man to want to make a “How to” list causes me to pause and consider the ‘on purposeness’ of Jesus in leaving this so open ended. 

An unnamed judge, widow and city leave the application wide open. We don’t know how many times she came. We know she wasn’t welcome. We know, the last time she came was the last time she needed to come. 

When you have been praying for something for a very long time it is easy to grow weary with the repetition. Perhaps we should record our prayer and simply hit play as the same words and tears pour out once again. 

Jesus was teaching his disciples, by the way that includes you, to be persistent. I’m sure by the time the judge gave in he could have recited the request along with the widow and likely matched her word for word, gesture for gesture. Perhaps he was among those who sneered as she pled for justice over and over and over and over. But the last time she came, he didn’t sneer, he didn’t send her away, he answered her cries and fulfilled her request. 

What if she had stayed home that day? What if she threw in the towel after the agonizing lack of response? A spiritual tug of war was likely going on as the enemy fought to convince her to drop it and God urged her to get up and make the trip, just one more time.

The missing details in this story allow us to fill in our own journey. There is not a number of prayers we are aiming for, imagine our disappointment if we exceeded said number without an answer! 

When you have prayed the same prayer until you have used up all your words, keep praying. God doesn’t need a play by play discourse and comprehensive description of our plight. 

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness, interceding for us with groans that cannot be expressed in words. Romans 8:26

The exact interpretation of every sigh, tear, and indistinguishable utterance is grasped by our faithful Father. 

Unlike the unjust Judge, God loves us deeply and always is working for our good. The Holy Spirit comes alongside to help us. In our weakness he is there, interceding for us. 

Abraham waited 25 years for the birth of Isaac. Joseph spent 13 years in slavery and prison. David waited about 15 years to become king. Israel waited 430 years in Egypt. It might seem like it but none of you have been waiting that long!

So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. Hebrews 10:35-36

Today might be the last day you need to bring your request before God. Asking one more time might seem useless, but that is the whole point of this parable. Jesus wants us to know it is anything but useless. 

So I tell  you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Luke 11:9-13 

Oh weary one, if you have carved a path to the throne bringing this request to your Father, please don’t give up! God is not wearied by your return. He is pleased that even when it seems hopeless you are trudging on in faith, trusting that the One who loves you is still listening. 

God has a plan. It might not look much like the one you suggested to him, but he has one. Don’t let fatigue steal your devotion. Don’t let disappointment drain your joy. 

Keep returning until you don’t need to return anymore because you are leaving with what you have been asking for.