Keep Coming

Wednesday August 5, 2026

Dear Friends, this will be the last Devotion for this week. I will be back next week. 

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Scripture

Luke 18:1

“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”

Reflection 

Jesus opens this parable above by telling us exactly why He’s sharing it: we should always pray and not give up.

This tells us something important. Jesus already knew there would be seasons when His followers would be tempted to stop praying. He knew there would be prayers that seemed unanswered, hopes that appeared delayed, and circumstances that made people wonder whether God was listening at all.

So He tells the story of a widow.

In the ancient world, widows were among the most vulnerable members of society. She had little social standing, little influence, and few resources. Yet she possessed one thing that no one could take away—she refused to quit. Again and again she came before the judge with the same request:

"Grant me justice."

The judge was everything God is not. Jesus describes him as someone who neither feared God nor cared about people. He had no compassion, no integrity, and no desire to help. Eventually he granted her request, not because he became righteous, but simply because her persistence became impossible to ignore.

Jesus' point is found in the contrast.

If even an unjust judge eventually responds to persistent pleading, how much more will our heavenly Father hear the cries of His beloved children?

The widow had to convince a reluctant judge.

We never have to convince a reluctant God.

The Father who invites us to pray already loves us before we ask. He knows our needs before we speak. He delights in giving good gifts to His children. Prayer is never about overcoming God's resistance. It is about drawing near to the God who has already drawn near to us.

That changes everything.

This parable is meant to give us confidence—real confidence—to keep praying even when answers seem slow or unclear.

We all know what it feels like to pray for something again and again and wonder if God is listening. Maybe you’ve prayed for healing, for a breakthrough, for a relationship to be restored, for a situation to change—and nothing seems to move. Maybe you’ve wondered if your faith is weak or if God is distant.

Jesus tells this story to say: Don’t stop. Don’t quit. Don’t lose heart. Your Father hears you. Your Father cares. Your Father is working.

We keep praying because we know God’s character. He is wise, good, loving, sovereign, and perfect. Even when He doesn’t answer the way we want or in the timeframe we hope for, He is still working for our good (Romans 8:28). That truth alone is enough to keep us praying with confidence.

God will glorify His name and work for the ultimate good of His children. That’s why we don’t lose heart. That’s why we keep praying. That’s why we persist like the widow—trusting the One who loves us far more than any earthly judge ever could.

Prayer

God, we bring before You the things we’ve been praying about for a long time. Based on Jesus’ parable, we ask again—trusting Your character and Your promises. We ask for Your provision, Your help, Your justice, Your mercy, Your healing. Do what only You can do. Make our hearts persistent like the widow’s—steady, hopeful, and full of trust. Teach us to persevere in prayer.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Application

• Pray again today — Bring that long‑standing request back to God with fresh trust.

• Hold onto Romans 8:28 — Let God’s promise steady your heart when answers feel slow.