Waiting with the Persistence of the Widow

“And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

-Luke 18:1

By Chaplain George Nix, PruittHealth Hospice Rome

“Are we there yet?” “How much longer until Christmas?” ” When are we going to eat?”  All of the above are questions which sound familiar to those of us who are parents.   We would like to think that as adults we have risen above being impatient.  Nah, not yet. I think we all struggle with becoming impatient. After all, we live in a microwave world.  This is true also in the spiritual sense. We present our daily requests to God and wonder why He won’t answer them.  I think you remember the parable Jesus told in the passage I referenced above. It is called the parable of the unjust judge, or the parable of the persistent widow.  Jesus tells the story of a widow who came to this judge day after day, pleading with him to grant her justice against her adversary. The judge finally relented.  

“And the Lord said: “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”” 

Luke 18:6-8

We have been praying every day for the COVID-19 crisis to be over, praying for healing and for answers.  But as we pray here is what we should know beyond a shadow of a doubt:  God will answer our prayers, in His time and His way.  The parable that Jesus taught is a reminder for each of us to be like the persistent widow who appeared before a judge who was unjust.  If she had that kind of persistent faith, what kind of faith can we have as we appear before the judge who is just?  “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us (Eph. 3:20).” 

Prayer:  Gracious God, you have bound us together in a common life.  Help us, in the midst of this current struggle to see your justice and truth, to be persistent in our daily prayers and daily life, as we come before you pleading for an end to this season.  May this virus dissipate.  But not for mere comfort, rather for a testimony that can be shared of your good grace.  Amen. 

Chaplain George Nix was born in Chicago, Illinois. George has been a Chaplain with Pruitt Health Hospice for 10 years.