Radical Stories In Luke

Luke 8:1-8

Jesus told the story of this stubborn woman and a corrupt judge to encourage his followers to persevere in prayer while awaiting the coming of the Kingdom of God. Unlike other parables, Jesus tells us in the first line of this one what the lesson is, “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”

In ancient times, widows had a hard time. They had no legal rights to their husband’s estate and were often reduced to begging. A widow with a grown son was usually taken care of, but those with small children or no children were on their own. We don’t know exactly the grievance of this widow, but she had no one to speak for her and she was completely powerless.  She was at the mercy of a judge who admittedly didn’t fear God or care about people. This powerful man had no regard for what we know to be the two greatest commandments: loving God and loving your neighbor. Perhaps because she had no money to pay him off, the judge would not hear her or help her. Apparently the woman had a good case against her adversary, so she went to the judge repeatedly, maybe daily, asking for justice.  

Remember the Energizer Bunny? “He keeps going & going & going. . . .” Well, this woman was like the Energizer Bunny; the judge wouldn’t hear her case, so bothered him until he finally heard her case and gave her justice.  She kept coming back, making a nuisance of herself before him because she KNEW he could answer her petition. The point is that, if the judge, who cared nothing for the widow or for justice, finally responded to her cry merely to be rid of her aggravating requests, then will not God, who loves us and gave His Son for us, answer our prayers when we are in need?

This is how Jesus wants us to pray. It is not a matter of wearing God out with our prayers. It is not because God doesn’t know our needs or remember his promises. It is not because He didn’t hear us the first time. By praying persistently, we are proving that our faith is genuine. If every prayer we prayed was answered immediately, how much faith would we need? But if we have to pray for months, years, or even decades before our prayers are answered, it shows our faith is strong. If the unjust judge is worn down by persistence, how can we doubt that the Just Judge will respond to faithful prayer?

In my own experience, when something is heavy on my heart or when I am in despair, this is when my relationship with God is especially important. I can either pray fervently to Him, or I can become depressed. Prayer allows my mind to focus on God, and helps me to know Him better; it takes my focus off of myself. I want to be persistently in relationship with Him, even when I can’t always see Him acting. The more I tell Him how I feel, constantly asking for His help, the closer I am to Him. To “pray always” is what keeps me from losing heart.
We are told to continually pray because that is how we stay in relationship with God.  It keeps us showing up day after day like the widow, trusting that God sees and hears us, so that when He does act we will be there, expecting His answer. Imagine the tragedy if one day the widow had given up; she decided she couldn’t stand another day of crying out and asking for justice, and that was the day the judge ruled.  I wonder how much of God’s love, forgiveness, healing, and intercession we have missed because we didn’t keep praying –  because we just quit too soon. To “pray always” is what insures we are present and faithful so that “when the Son of Man comes he will find faith on earth.”

Almighty God, you have promised to hear the petitions of those who ask in your Son’s name.  I pray that you will grant those things that we have faithfully asked according to your will, and that we may receive your blessings to meet our needs, and to bring glory to you; through Jesus Christ. Amen

Lynn Anne Hughes

Stephenville, Texas