Notes of Faith August 28, 2025
Persistent, Patient Prayer
Then [Jesus] spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.
Luke 18:1
If we make a request of someone—perhaps a friend or coworker—and don’t receive an answer, we wonder why. Did they forget? Does their silence mean no? Are they still considering our request? We may be afraid to ask again and so continue in a state of confusion. Sadly, we take that human experience and apply it to God in the case of unanswered prayer.
Recommended Reading:
Luke 18:1-8
Several things are different when it comes to unanswered prayer. First, Jesus taught that God knows what we are going to pray for before we even ask (Matthew 6:8). That eliminates the possibility of God not having heard our prayers. Second, Jesus told a parable illustrating the fact that we should continue to ask and not give up (Luke 18:1-8). In the parable, a woman petitioned a judge with her request and continued to ask until she received an answer. A second parable of Jesus illustrates the similar points of boldness and persistence in prayer (Luke 11:5-8).
Third, God is good and will not withhold anything from His children according to His perfect plans. Pray and be patient while awaiting God’s answer.
The great tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayer.
F. B. Meyer
We are taught from instinct, our parents, and educators that we need to pull our pants up and take care of every problem that comes our way. This is a bleak attempt to leave God out of every issue of life. But it is God who has created each one of us in our mother’s womb, knows us more intimately than any other, and is involved in every moment of our lives. Let us not only be aware that God is… but that God hears and answers prayer. Jesus prayed continually. Jesus is God and yet He prayed to His Father intimately and always. Let us learn to be like Jesus, talking to “our” Father, as He taught us to pray. Pray without ceasing. Pray about everything. Your Father loves conversation with you.
James 4:8
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
Pastor Dale