“And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will He delay long over them? I tell you; He will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Luke 18:1-8 ESV
This parable is a story about a person responding positively to injustice.
This is a story for those who are in or have faced such circumstances. Its message is simple, during ordeals we too can have tenacious and hopeful faith.
This Story has three characters:
• A persistent widow who represents robust faith;
• An unjust judge, who represents not only the trials and wrongs many face, but also a reminder of what can be overcome with persistence; and
• Our father God who is faithful to bring help and his justice in the midst of our trials.
The nature of the persistent widow reveals that faith by nature is continuous not only in practice but as an internal posture. “We ought always to pray and not lose heart.” A heart persistent in faith is like the widow who, despite rejection, refuses to quit.
1. Don’t Just Stay Constant, Stay Confident.
Confidence is easier to have when we have support. Therefore, we need people, we need a community to stand with us. Our words of encouragement and prayers become more powerful when we join with people. (ie connect groups etc) (1 Thess 5:11; Matthew 18:19-20)
2. Victory is There for Those Who Refuse to Quit.
Confident faith enables us to see that trials are temporal. Even the stormiest of situations, eventually finish. As we continue to stand, we continue to beat down the pressures of trials that arise. Our faith sustains us as we journey through pain. Faith is not just a spiritual gift it is also an emotional feeling. A boldness on the inside that keeps us standing and believing until the temporal trial passes away.
3. God will be Faithful; we can be Faith Filled.
The worst is temporal, but God is always present in our lives. He is ready to answer. Are we ready to ask? Are we ready to come with confident faith and boldly ask in prayer and keep asking, for his hand to move in our lives? (Mathew 7:11)
SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT:
1. Reflect on/share (if you feel comfortable) about a time when you felt like you were going through a stormy or unjust situation.
2. Who or what did you turn to at this time? Do you remember who was by your side or what action steps you took to cope and get through this time?
3. What are some steps we can take to build up our faith?
4. Consider who you may stand alongside within your own sphere of influence, who is currently facing a storm or unjust situation in their life.
