Why Should I Pray When I Don't See Answers To My Prayers?

One of the most important tools we have right now during this pandemic is prayer.  We are praying for a cure to this virus.  We are praying for protection from the virus for our famiies and friends. We are praying for healing for those who have the virus and peace and comfort for those who have lost loved ones.  Finally, we pray for doctors, nurses, hospital employees, pharmacy and grocery store workers who are putting themselves in harm's way to provide us with the essentials we need.  Today's parable is an interesting one.  We learn about prayer in this story of the persistent widow and the insensitive judge.  

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”

6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Like most parables, Jesus uses this parable as an earthly analogy to demonstrate a spiritual truth. This one demonstrates how God hears our prayers if we don't give up.  Jesus juxtaposes an unjust judge who grants a widow justice because of her incessant demands.  Importantly in verse 1 it says "Jesus taught them this so that they should always pray and not give up".  Another version says, "They should not lose heart!"  

What do we learn about prayer from this parable.  

1. Unlike the unjust judge, God loves it when we come to Him in prayer.  It shows our trust and reliance in Him.  Just like when our child comes to us because they trust us it brings us joy. 

2. We get discouraged when we don't see the answer to our prayers.  We want to give up thinking that God doesn't care or doesn't have the time for our prayers. Jesus wants us to be persistent in our prayers.  In Colossians 4:12, Paul says this about a man who labored in prayer, "Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured."

3. Remember that the devil hates it when you pray.  He knows it is a weapon he can't fight against because it has spiritual power from Jesus himself. 

4. Jesus modeled prayer for every significant moment of his life.  Jesus even prayed in the Garden if it would be possible for God to take away the suffering of the cross for him.  

As we continue to endure hardship during this COVID pandemic, let's persevere in prayer for ourselves, our families and our neighbors.  Prayer is powerful.  God loves to hear our prayers, and it is a way we draw near to him. When we pray we feel God's presence and He gives us strength to get through this trial. 

Finally there is a promise in this parable. God will bring justice for those whom he has called. That would be you and me. In the end God will win all the battles that rage against the church and his chosen ones. One day we will receive our reward as his sons and daughters. One day we will see how our prayers changed many things in this life.  Remember the lyrics of the old hymn, "Oh the peace we often forfeit because we do not take it to the Lord in prayer."