Render a just decision for me against my adversary. (Luke 18:3)
How often, when you hear this story, do you
picture a stocky old woman with a grating voice—a stereotypical “nag”?
You might compare her stubbornness to the persistence of a bulldog or
the relentlessness of a broken record. Today when you think of her, try
something different: look at her as a model of confidence, contentment,
and courage.
Courageous: This widow fears neither her adversary nor the
annoyance of the judge; she bravely demands justice. It takes fortitude
to continue when things aren’t going your way. It’s tempting to give up
hope when your prayers are not immediately answered. The “long time”
that the judge refuses the widow’s request doesn’t stop her (Luke 18:4).
She keeps reminding him of her request, and she can teach us courage in
pursuing God even when we encounter setbacks.
Confident: This woman is convinced that she’s in the right
and that God cares about her. So when she faces the roadblock of an
uncooperative judge, she doesn’t give up. She knows God is on her side,
and that knowledge emboldens her. Just so, each of us can be confident
in God’s personal care for us.
Contented: As she waits on God’s timing, the widow shows a
certain level of contentment. She trusts that God will set things right.
So too Jesus promises that as we persist in prayer and trust God, we
will find contentment even while we wait. We can be content knowing that
we are doing what God asks of us. The rest is up to him, and we can
trust he will answer us.
Jesus ends his parable by asking whether, when he returns, he will
find any faith on the earth. This was not an arbitrary question tacked
onto the end of the parable as an afterthought. The kind of faith Jesus
is looking for is the faith of this persistent widow: one that
demonstrates courage, confidence, and contentment. When we have faith
like this, our prayers are not filled with desperate begging but with
joyful expectancy [emphasis, mine]. So imitate the persistent widow today as you bring
your needs to God.
“Jesus, I bring my needs to you boldly and confidently. I will trust in you even while I wait to see your will unfold.”
from wau.org
