“You just don’t give up!” This has been said of me a few times in my lifetime.  This is a blessing and welcome affirmation if what I am resolute in honoring God with my life and growing my faith in ways that are holy and unwavering.  This is a curse with cause for dismay and intervention if I am not giving up on wanting my own way, hurting people who get in my way, while forcing life to happen through my own feeble attempts at controlling life.

Jesus knows us well and knows our hearts.  He tells us yet another story to show us that our persistence for God’s mercy and grace is rewarded by His love for us!  God hears our cries for help. 

When we feel invisible to others in this world, God sees us.  From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind” (Psalm 33:13). Like Proverbs 15:3 explains, “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.” God is keeping an eye on everyone. Nothing that happens in the world is out of His view.

When we feel unheard, God listens to every word uttered from our lips as well as every thought that is on our minds.  “The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.” Psalm 34:17

In fact, all of heaven stops to rejoice when our persistent, sincere prayers of repentance begin.  Heaven knows “His compassions fail not”—God’s promise.  God does not lie.  God responds.  God’s plan of forgiveness is secured through Jesus.  God’s love is everlasting and cannot be taken from us.  Yes, God never gives up on us.

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!”  Lamentations 3:22-24, NKJV

God never gives up on us.  Repeat this as often as necessary.  Don’t give up on God!

Luke 18, The Message

The Story of the Persistent Widow

18 ^1-3 Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit. He said, “There was once a judge in some city who never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people. A widow in that city kept after him: ‘My rights are being violated. Protect me!’

^4-5 “He never gave her the time of day. But after this went on and on he said to himself, ‘I care nothing what God thinks, even less what people think. But because this widow won’t quit badgering me, I’d better do something and see that she gets justice—otherwise I’m going to end up beaten black-and-blue by her pounding.’”

^6-8 Then the Master said, “Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying? So what makes you think God won’t step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won’t he stick up for them? I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Let us pause to reflect on what Jesus is telling us as we evaluate the depth of our faith because what flows from our hearts will be seen in our behaviors today. 

We must be still before God, let go of our agenda items floating around in our brains and ask ourselves:

• Do I really believe that what God says and does really real? 
• Do I believe God truly loves the world (everyone) so much He gave His Only Son to save whoever believes in Him?  Am I one of the “whoevers”?
• How persistent am I in asking God for help believing that He will intervene with love, mercy, justice, and grace?
• Do I trust God with every part of my life—all the details? 
• Do I really love God back with all my heart, all my mind, and all my soul? 
• Do I love others, including those unlovable people who don’t know God, like He loves me?

Then consider this…

Could it be that in believing our faith fuels our passionate, persistent cries for help—assured that He will answer with exactly what we need when we need it?

“But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?” –Jesus, asking His friends…

Lord,

I will never give up on you because you never gave up on me.  I am not perfect but I know and am assured that I am perfectly forgive by you.  Your love never runs out and never gives up on me.  Your mercies are new and fresh, filling my soul each morning as we talk together.  My persistent prayer is for you to cleanse my heart, remove all that is not you, renew my mind, transform my thinking, refresh my soul with your compassionate mercy, and restore the joy of your salvation at work within me.  I am convinced that you love even me.  I am assured that you are with us always—to the end of this age when you will come back to claim your own.  Great is your faithfulness!

In Jesus Name, Amen