Persistence Pays Off

“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” Luke 18:1 NIV

In a heartwarming story titled “Senior dog follows runner all the way home. Now, ‘persistent’ pup is up for adoption” published by the Miami Herald on Tuesday, the writer said: A dog followed a runner all the way home — and now the “persistent” older pup is up for adoption.“He is the sweetest senior at our shelter, and we’re really hoping that the right heart is touched by this post,” a Florida animal shelter wrote Dec. 9 on Facebook. “He’s had a tough life. Let’s get him seen. Let’s get him home.” Orange County Animal Services said Rocky is ready for a second chance after experiencing a rough patch. A woman was exercising when she saw him lying motionless near her running path in October, according to the social media post and an online adoption profile. “The dog looked like he was in rough condition,” the Orlando-based shelter wrote. “She walked up to the dog to check if he was still alive, and that was when the dog suddenly woke up. The resident said the dog followed her on the rest of her run, and then followed her home. She was surprised, because the dog was very persistent.” Rocky slept on the woman’s porch overnight before she took him to animal services as a stray. 

And, you know, when it comes to the benefits of being persistent, the Bible gives us the Parable of the Persistent Widow. In it, a corrupt judge who lacks compassion and has no fear of God is repeatedly approached by a woman seeking justice. Initially rejecting her demands, he eventually honors her request so he won’t be worn out by her persistence, thereby demonstrating that effective prayer many times requires great tenacity and faithfulness. You see, God wants and expects us to be persistent—to keep on asking, seeking, knocking, and praying until the answers come. Why? Because as Pastor Rick Henderson explains, “Our persistence doesn’t change God; it changes us. God uses our persistence to mold us, shape us and tune our hearts with His. Sometimes the persistence doesn’t pay off in the way we might expect, but the persistence will always achieve the purpose it was set out for: to perfect the pray-er.”

So if your prayers haven’t been answered, don’t give up praying my friend. While many times the answer is no, many times it’s yes, but will come to pass in God’s perfect timing for God’s perfect purpose… if you don’t give up praying that is. So don’t give up! Ever! Disciples of Jesus are people that should be known for their persistent faith which comes through persistent prayer.

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that some prayers are answered instantly while some are answered only after months, years, or even decades of praying. Lord, help us to be known as people that never give up praying no matter how bleak the situation might appear. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!