Try Again

One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must keep praying until the answer comes.

"There was a city judge," he said, "a very godless man who had great contempt for everyone. A widow of that city came to him frequently to appeal for justice against a man who had harmed her. The judge ignored her for a while, but eventually she got on his nerves."

" 'I fear neither God nor man,' he said to himself, 'but this woman bothers me. I'm going to see that she gets justice, for she is wearing me out with her constant coming!' "

Then the Lord said, "If even an evil judge can be worn down like that, don't you think that God will surely give justice to his people who plead with him day and night? Yes! He will answer them quickly! But the question is: When I, the Messiah, return, how many will I find who have faith and are praying?" Luke 18:1-8 (TLB)

My health fails, my spirits droop, yet God remains! He is the strength of my heart; he is mine forever!

Psalm 73:26 (TLB)

Zeph Dim lives in Lagos, Nigeria. His son, David, is learning to walk. As he stood holding on to a chair, his mother walked past him onto the balcony. David let go of the chair and started walking toward her. He took two steps, but he fell on the third. When no one came, he stood up and took a few more steps before he fell again and began screaming. This time, his mother rushed over to pick him up.

This got Zeph thinking: if babies were to stop trying again after they fell, nobody would ever learn to walk. This brought to mind the parable of the persistent widow. Though she was denied justice several times, she refused to give up and ultimately got what she desired.

In his journey of faith, Zeph has fallen many times and becomes weary. But by God's grace, he has gotten up and continued. Persisting in faith despite difficulties is always worthwhile. No matter how often you fall, take courage, stand up, and take another step.

Prayer: Loving God, no matter the challenges we face, give us the strength to rise up again and persist in faith, in Jesus' name. Amen.