The Widow’s Persistence—A Model of Faith
Scripture: “And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary'” (Luke 18.3, ESV)
Main Point: The widow’s persistent return to the judge, despite repeated rejection, models the kind of faith Jesus calls us to cultivate.
The widow in this parable is powerless. She has no influence, no wealth, no social standing. She is completely dependent on someone else’s decision. She knows this. And yet she keeps coming back. She doesn’t give up after one rejection. She persists.
What’s remarkable is that her persistence isn’t born from desperation alone—it’s born from hope. She believes that if she keeps showing up, keeps asking, keeps refusing to go away, eventually justice will come. And she’s right.
Paul speaks to this kind of persistence when he writes: “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3.14-15, ESV). Paul is calling us to continue, to persist, to hold fast—not because it will be easy, but because it will be true.
The widow models what persistent faith looks like. She doesn’t pray once and assume God has heard. She brings her request again and again. She refuses to lose heart even when rejected. She acts as though justice will come, because she believes it will.
Your persistence in prayer isn’t a sign of weak faith. It’s a sign of deep faith—faith that keeps trusting even when answers are delayed.
Reflection: The widow teaches us that faith is about continuing to show up before God with our needs. What would change in your prayer life if you viewed persistence as an act of faith?
Prayer: Lord, give me the courage of the widow to keep coming to You, to keep asking, to keep believing that You hear me. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.
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