Are you familiar with the persistent widow in the Bible? (See the Bible quotes below.)
The persistent widow had a need. She sought help. She didn’t quit until she had overcome the issue.
How long until we pass the test of faith? Do you not see it? The man with the sick child came to Jesus seeking to heal his son from afar. He believed it was possible.
It’s not always easy to be persistent when we don’t see the results of our prayers. Maybe we believe God informed us of something that we don’t see happening in our life or the life of another.
On the other hand, with persistence, praying always, we can see results. Some results are absolute miracles. Keep believing!
There is a key component throughout the Bible, especially in Hebrews. It’s not always easy to have it, but it’s faith. Faith to believe in something that we cannot see yet. If we are following God in obedience to Him and what we seek is life and healing and wholeness, it is God’s will to see it through for you.
“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.”
(Hebrews 11:1-3)
In the Bible, there are numerous stories of tremendous power with healings; the removal of demons from those possessed; the feeding of tons of people with what started out as only enough food to feed a few that was miraculously multiplied; the water being turned into wine; and more. We must believe for what we hope for in our persistence.
You will never be able to outdo the giver. Seek God who is the giver of life and love. Seek Jesus Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you.
“Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside. Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. ‘Lord,’ the man said, ‘if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.‘ Jesus reached out and touched him. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be healed!’ And instantly the leprosy disappeared. ”
(Matthew 8:1-3)
In another account of healing in the Bible, Jesus is amazed at the faith of the soldier. Jesus said of this man that he had “great faith,” unlike any other in Israel!
Until we virtually meet again, may God call you to Himself.
God’s Word for Today
Parable of the Persistent Widow
Luke 18:1-8
1 One 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?’ ”
Copyright © 2024 Patricia Shehan
All scriptures are set in italics and quoted from various translations of the Holy Bible. Most verses are quoted from the New Living Translation.
