Keep Praying
- Stephen McAuley
- Apr 14
- 2 min read

Jesus told His disciples about hard times to come. He said, there’ll be hardship — persecution even — and long periods of waiting.
“And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.”
Luke 18:1
At first sight it’s a strange story. You could be forgiven for thinking that Jesus is saying, “If there’s something you want from God, keep on at Him and He’ll give in, to make you go away and give His head peace!” But of course that’s not what Jesus is saying: God’s just not like that.
No, Jesus is saying, an unjust judge might do the like of that, but God is not an unjust judge. God is good, God is just, God will always see to it that the righteous prayers of His chosen people are answered, and quickly. You can rely on it.
“And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily.”
Luke 18:7
If you were pleading a case with that unjust judge, you would keep on at him till you got what you wanted. How much more should you keep on asking God for that good thing that you know He’s going to give you? The point of Jesus’ story is, don’t give up on prayer.
“Men always ought to pray and not lose heart”
Luke 18:1
Sometimes you have requests that you know God should grant, but His response is a long time in coming. Keep praying. God’s work will be done, the missionaries will go, the gospel will be proclaimed, His people will be saved, Jesus will come back, the harvest will be reaped, the Kingdom will be established, all your good requests will be granted. None of that is in question. What is in question is this. Will Jesus come back to find you still praying?
“Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"
Luke 18:8
Is there something you’ve been praying for for a long time? Maybe you’ve been tempted to give up. Maybe you have given up. Maybe you would never admit to that. Maybe you still pray after a fashion, but your heart isn’t in it. Don't lose heart. Keep praying.
I hope these thoughts on prayer have been an encouragement to you.
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