Never Give Up

Today, we’re talking about something I think we’ve all struggled with: persistent prayer. Jesus shared a parable about how important it is to keep praying and not give up, even when we don’t see results right away. Before we dive in, let’s pray.

Thank You, God, for being so faithful, even when we don’t see what You’re doing behind the scenes. Help me to understand what it looks like to be persistent in my prayers and to trust that You hear every single one. Help me live this out day by day. Amen.

Luke 18:1-8 (NLT)

¹One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. ² “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. ³ A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’

⁴ The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, ⁵ but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”

⁶ Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. ⁷ Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? ⁸ I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”

Truth be told, it’s tough to keep praying when you don’t see an answer right away. We all go through moments where we want to give up, thinking maybe God’s just not answering or maybe He’s too busy. But in this passage, Jesus tells us to be like the widow who kept coming back and asking over and over again.

Let’s bring it to real life. Whether it’s playing an instrument or mastering a craft, learning something new takes time, effort, and repetition. At first, you might struggle, feel frustrated, or even want to quit. But by sticking with it, practicing regularly, and staying determined, you eventually improve. In prayer, it’s the same: growth and answers may come slowly, but persistence will lead to deeper communion with God.

God calls us to keep praying, even when it’s hard and we’re not seeing immediate results. We need to trust that God hears us. Unlike the judge in the parable, God is different. He loves us deeply, and He’s working on our behalf, even if we can’t see it yet. It’s not about getting what we want right away; it’s about growing in faith. Do you truly believe that God knows what’s best and will answer in His perfect time?

Maybe you’ve been praying for something big: a change in a relationship, help with your finances, or healing for someone you love. Don’t give up. God is faithful. He’s working things out in ways you may not see yet. It’s like planting seeds. You water, you wait, and you don’t see much happening at first. But in time, those seeds grow and produce fruit. Prayer works the same way. Think of some situations in your life where you need to keep praying and trust that God will bring about a harvest when the time is right.

Today, I encourage you to keep praying for whatever it is you’ve been bringing to God. Even when it feels like nothing is changing, know that He is listening. Here are some words to help guide your prayer if you need them:

God, I’m still waiting for this answer, and it’s hard…

Father, help me to trust You by staying persistent in my prayers…

May you have faith in His provision and timing in all things!