The parable of the persistent widow

Then Jesus spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’”
Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:1-8

There are some prayers we pray over and over again and after a while we just want to straight up give up. Can you relate? And these thoughts start crippling in our mind: does God even care? Does He even see this pain I am experiencing? And in these moments I know so well how easy it is to give up. It is easy to stop having faith because you are tired of having a huge pile of unanswered prayers. I have been there, but God has always nudged me to keep on believing. And you know what’s encouraging? Look with me at the size of faith Jesus requires from us, “… for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20

Don’t block God’s answer by your unbelief.

All that God is asking from us is to have faith as a mustard seed. A mustard seed is a really small seed and Jesus is saying to us that even a faith that small will not only move mountains but with it nothing will be impossible for us.

Lord, I will take you at Your word.

Don’t block God’s answer by your unbelief. When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?

I wanted to share another devotional about faith that really strengthened me and truly encouraged me to keep having faith in God and His word and promises when my prayers seem to have been ignored for a while. This entry was for February the 22nd and it is from my favorite devotional book Streams in the Desert.

It is my prayer that when the Son of Man comes He finds me with faith. I hope this is your prayer as well.

The devotional starts below:

“If you can”?… Everything is possible for him who believes. (Mark 9:23)

I seldom have heard a better definition of faith than that given in one of our meetings, by a sweet, elderly black woman, as she answered a young man who asked, “How do I obtain the Lord’s help for my needs?”

In her characteristic way, pointing her finger towards him, she said with great insistence, “You just have to believe that He’s done it and it’s done.” The greatest problem with most of us is, after asking Him to do it, we do not believe it is done (my emphasis). Instead, we keep trying to help Him, get others to help Him, and anxiously wait to see how He is going to work. Faith adds its “Amen” to God’s “Yes” and then takes its hands off, leaving God to finish His work. The language of faith is, “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and he will do this” (Ps. 37:5) (my emphasis). From Days of Heaven upon Earth

I simply take Him at His word,
I praise Him that my prayer is heard,
And claim my answer from the Lord;
I take, He undertakes.

Active faith gives thanks for a promise even though it is not yet performed, knowing that God’s contracts are as good as cash (my emphasis). Matthew Henry

Passive faith accepts the Word as true,
But never moves.
Active faith begins the work to do,
And thereby proves.

Passive faith says, “I believe it! Every word of God is true. Well I know he has not spoken what He cannot, will not do. He has instructed me, ‘Go forward!’ but a closed-up way I see, when waters are divided, soon in Canaan’s land I’ll be.

Lo! I hear His voice commanding, ‘Rise and walk: take up your bed’; and, ‘Stretch to Me your withered hand!’ which for so long has been dead. When I am a little stronger, then, I know I’ll surely stand: When there comes a thrill of healing, I will use with ease my reclaimed hand. Yes, I know that ‘God is able’ and full willing all to do: I believe that every promise, sometime, will to me come true.”

Active faith says, “I believe it! And the promise now I take, knowing well, as I receive it, God, each promise, real will make. So I step into the waters, finding there an open way; onward press, the land possessing; nothing can my progress stay. Yes, I rise at His commanding, walking, straight, and joyfully: This, my hand so sadly shriveled, as I reach, restored will be.

What beyond His faithful promise, would I wish or do I need? Looking not for ‘signs or wonders’, I’ll no contradiction heed. Well I know that ‘God is able’, and full willing all to do. I believe that every promise, at this moment can come true.”

Passive faith but praises the light,
When the sun does shine.
Active faith will praise in darkest night

Which faith is yours?