Shepherd of the Hills, Lakewood

A long-time elementary school teacher in a Christian school likes to tell the story about teaching the subject of prayer to her class. When doing so, she makes reference to the passage in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 that challenges us all, "Pray without ceasing." One year, after having taught the section on prayer, she was approached by one of her students following that morning’s chapel service in which she had offered one of the prayers. "Mrs. Capeheart," the student said, "I’m sorry I sneezed during your prayer today." Mrs. Capeheart, a bit bewildered by the students confession, responded by assuring the student that sneezing during a prayer was ok, but she appreciated his concern. To which the student replied, "Well, I know you like us to pray without sneezing."

Ah, if only it were that simple! I could pray without sneezing with only the occasional violation! It’s that praying without ceasing that’s more difficult! Or, put another way—as Jesus does in introducing this parable—"always pray…and not give up." Jesus tells this parable to his disciples "to show them that they should always pray and not give up."

It’s worth noting that throughout his ministry, Jesus is very intentional in teaching on the topic of prayer. This parable is one example. The most famous example is Jesus’ teaching "The Lord’s Prayer"—there, teaching his disciples how to pray, here, teaching his disciples "they should always pray and not give up."

There are several points Jesus makes in telling this parable. Not only does Jesus teach about persistence in prayer, he also teaches something about the God to whom we pray—that God is interested in justice for His people and He is faithful to His people—and Jesus teaches something about ourselves in prayer—do we trust in the One to whom we pray.

First the issue of justice. Jesus makes his point through the contrast between the unjust judge and God. The judge is described in unflattering terms as "not fearing God nor caring for humanity." The problem is, as a first century Palestine judge, he ought to be the exact opposite—fearing God and caring about humanity. In other words, the judge in the parable is, at best, incompetent, at worst, corrupt. The widow—who especially should have the judge’s sympathetic ear because caring for widows was required by the law—has no chance with this judge because she doesn’t have the resources to meet his corrupt price. It is only when her persistent appeals become an embarrassment to the judge—literally, a "black eye" to the judge—does she get the justice she deserves. He is not moved by his social and professional responsibilities, or by the widow’s desperate situation. It is his status with others that prompts him to act. In essence, he is shamed into acting.

Contrast that with God. Jesus asks a rhetorical question in this parable. "And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night?" In contrast to an unjust judge who finally responds after persistent badgering from a needy widow, there is a just God who is ready, eager and able to bring justice to our lives.

That is the image of God Jesus wants to plant in our hearts. Not an unjust judge who must be shamed in embarrassment before responding, but a God of justice who is quick to respond to the cries of His children. The problem is, of course, we’re not always clear as to what God’s justice looks like, or that it comes quickly enough. Consequently, a second important point in this story is the issue of our trust in the faithfulness of God. We are to be persistent in prayer, not so much that we will then get from God what we want, but that we will be more at peace with what God is doing in our lives. We are to be persistent in prayer, not so God will do the right thing for our lives—He’s already doing that—but rather so we can grow in our trust in God. We should "always pray and not give up," not to get what we want from God, but that we would grow in our trust that God is Lord over our lives—and He is a righteous and just God. The more we are persistent in prayer the more we grow in our relationship with God and the more we are at peace with what God is doing in our lives—the more we learn to place our trust in God and not our circumstances, to trust in God’s justice and His timing.

In his book, Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster describes prayer this way: "Prayer catapults us onto the frontier of the spiritual life. It is original research in unexplored territory…Real prayer is life creating and life changing…To pray is to change. Prayer is the central avenue God uses to transform us…In prayer, real prayer, we begin to think God’s thoughts after Him: to desire the things He desires, to love the things He loves. Progressively we are taught to see things from His point of view." An important point of persistent prayer is progressing in our relationship to better see things from God’s point of view…and to trust in that.

Through persistent prayer, we learn God answers prayer. Sometimes the answer is "yes." Sometimes, in God’s wisdom, the answer is "no." And sometimes the answer is "not yet." But through persistent prayer, we are transformed, growing in peace and understanding of God’s answers to our prayers, trusting in God’s answers and not our own.

One example of this comes from E. V. Hill. I’ve mentioned before that E. V. Hill is one of my faith heroes. Dr. Hill died last year, and while that brought sadness to my heart I can only imagine the joyous reception he received in God’s heavenly kingdom. For years, Dr. Hill was the pastor of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in south central Los Angeles and regularly was listed among the best preachers in the United States. One of his best known sermons was the eulogy he delivered at the funeral for his wife, whom he affectionately called "Baby." Perhaps some of you have heard the sermon replayed on various Christian radio programs, or, like me, have purchased it on CD. What makes it stand out, first of all, is a man preaching at his own wife’s funeral service. That would be extremely difficult. But, what is particularly memorable about his sermon on that occasion is its message of trust. Dr. Hill tells of his persistent prayers to God during the time of Baby’s illness, beseeching God to heal her. His prayers grew more and more persistent as she worsened and drew closer to death. And the message that came to E. V. in his prayers was simply this—"trust me." In that repeated-theme-sing-song style of African-American preachers, E. V. tells of his persistent prayers and the repeated answer from God, "Trust me." By the end of his sermon, E. V., again in that unique style, is shouting the answer, "Trust me, trust me," and telling the congregation while that was not the answer he was seeking, it was good enough for him. Through a difficult time, E. V. Hill persevered through persistent prayer and grew in his trust in a Sovereign God whose answer to his prayer was not the answer he sought.

Another example is that of a man whose name I don’t recall, but I’ll never forget his story. He was a missionary, retired at the time I heard him, but had been a missionary in Korea for over 30 years. Originally, he felt called to the mission field in China. That call came to him in the middle of World War II. He was accepted into the Orient Mission Society and began training for China—studying and learning the language, which is an extremely difficult language to learn, and studying China’s history and culture. Finally, after spending three years of his life in intense study, he was ready for assignment in China. The war had ended and the mission society was prepared to send him to China. However, at that time the communist revolution broke out in China and all Christian missionaries were either killed or forced to flee from the country. Red China became a closed society and this man could not be assigned to China. The society re-directed his studies toward Korea and eventually he was assigned there. His assignment was almost blocked by the Korean War, but this time it survived through the peace agreement that divided Korea into north and south. While he served faithfully in South Korea for years, his heart ached for China and the people of China. He even admitted to harboring anger toward God for allowing China to be closed off from the gospel. He continued in persistent prayer for China, but often his prayers were, "How could you allow this, O God? How could you allow the people of China to be shut off from you?" For 25 years, while faithfully serving as a missionary to South Korea, his persistent prayers were for China and included his anger and confusion about what had happened there.

Then, the borders of Red China began to open—just a bit, but open nonetheless. You might recall then-President Nixon’s trip to China and the slight opening of China’s borders to the rest of the world. This man desired to visit China. He could not go as a missionary, but he could go as a tourist. As soon as he was able, he made arrangements to travel to China. While he could not conduct business as a missionary, he went with the eye of a missionary, aching for the people of China and their need for the gospel. And what he found there absolutely astounded and humbled him. He came across the underground church in China and discovered the gospel was thriving there. The oppression of the Communist system had led to the flourishing of the gospel in China, very similar to what took place in Eastern Europe and Russia. In fact, he realized the truth that the gospel had grown in China under Communist oppression beyond what would have happened had missionaries been there all along. He told in a shaky voice how, with that realization, he was driven to his knees weeping over what God had done. For 25 years, he had not gotten the answers he desired in his persistent prayers for China—harboring even some resentment and anger toward God for not answering his prayers. And now he realized God had an answer beyond what he could have ever imagined.

Jesus tells this parable to address whatever circumstances we might find ourselves in, to speak to whatever desires are on our hearts. And his message to us is to always pray and not give up. If there’s a loved one for whom we are praying for healing from serious illness, Jesus says, "Pray and do not give up. Keep praying." If there’s someone for whom you’ve been praying that he or she might receive the gospel in their lives and come to saving faith in Jesus Christ, Jesus says, "Pray and do not give up." When we do not receive the answers we hope for, Jesus says, "Keep praying and do not give up." When we are angry and confused, not understanding where God is in the midst of our circumstances, Jesus says, "Keep praying and do not give up." Jesus tells this parable to his disciples to "show them that they should always pray and not give up." For he knows that in doing so, we will be transformed in our faith and in our trust in the God who brings His justice, His answers for His people.

Let us take a moment of reflection to consider Jesus’ encouragement to us today to "always pray and not give up."