Thomas Edison faced numerous failures while inventing the light bulb. He experimented with thousands of materials for the filament but never gave up. His determination led to the creation of the first commercially viable light bulb, changing the world forever. Edison famously said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work,” highlighting the importance of learning from failures. He was persistent and never gave up.
As I child, I learned persistence at an early age. I wanted a dog, and my parents did not want a dog in the house. I remember calling my Dad at work daily and asking him, “What are you thinking about Daddy? Are you thinking about getting me a dog?” He gave up in desperation and got me a dog!
Then I wanted a horse when I was older, and I remember crying all night (fake cry) over their telling me I could not have a horse. In the morning, Dad told my Mom to go and buy me a horse. Now, this is not a commentary on how to parent, and kids, this is not an example for you all to follow. This kind of persistence was actually manipulation.
In Luke chapter 11, Jesus tells a parable to illustrate persistent prayer. There was a man who had an unexpected guest, and he had no food for him. He knocked on his neighbor’s door at midnight, asking for bread for his visitor. Although his neighbor did not want to get up and didn’t want to awaken his children, because of his friend’s shameless persistence (that is the full meaning of the word in the text), he got up and gave him the bread.
Jesus painted a clear picture of persistence in prayer. Never give up. Never believe that God doesn’t care because He does. In fact, Jesus points this out:
So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you. (Luke 11:9)
Now for the million-dollar question: Why are our prayers not always answered? Sometimes we ask with the wrong motives, and sometimes we stop praying just before the breakthrough comes. We also know that God answers either with a no, a later (when the timing is right), or a yes. However, the more significant question is this: “Do you trust God? Do you believe that He is good, faithful, and wise?” If you can say yes, then you will believe that there is always a higher yes; the Father knows what is best, what we need, and when we need it. He is good and all-loving. He is not looking to break your heart, but to mend it amidst tragedies and unanswered prayers. We live on earth, and our hearts yearn for heaven.
So yes, we are called to persist in prayer, but even more importantly, we are called to know God intimately. It is only from a place of truly knowing Him that we can trust that our persistent prayers are effective.
The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful and effective. (James 5:16 The Message Translation)
As you try and answer life’s most difficult questions, consider joining us at Drawing Near to God on Thursdays or start your own Drawing Near group through DNG in a Box. We want to be available to you in your Christian journey as you press in to prayer.
Joanne
