Perseverance Luke 18:1-8

The Lord’s preferred method of teaching was through parables. His ministry is filled with them. Through these parables He taught those that were ready to hear the words He had for them. His parables taught lessons on topics from perseverance and faith, to humility and preparedness. Often His meaning was not stated outright. Sometimes, however it was.

This is the case in Luke 18:1-8. In this parable, before He even gives the example, the purpose is explained. “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;” (Luke 18:1). Going in to this parable we already know what it teaches. Let’s look more at how it teaches it.

“Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.” (Luke 18: 2-6)

This widow goes to a judge that does not care about her hoping to find relief from her circumstances. The judge sends her away but she comes back repeatedly asking for relief. He eventually gives in to be rid of her. She was diligent in asking for help and was eventually rewarded. This is what Christ was trying to teach, that perseverance gets results. 

Elder Holland has this to offer about this parable:

“When lonely, cold, hard times come, we have to endure, we have to continue, we have to persist. That was the Savior’s message in the parable of the importuning widow. … Keep knocking on that door. Keep pleading. In the meantime, know that God hears your cries and knows your distress. He is your Father, and you are His child” (“Lessons from Liberty Jail,” Ensign, Sept. 2009, 30).

The times of trial are not for us to give up and curse God for not listening, they are for us to show our faith in Him and His plan. They are for us to learn diligence and perseverance. Our perseverance shows our faith in Him.

                Staying strong in our pleas for help is not easy when the answer we are waiting for is a long time in coming. We like instant gratification. Sometimes it will seem like we pray and pray with no respite in sight. Through all of that we must remember that our prayers are heard.  The parable continues:

“And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:7-8)

If a man who “feared not God, neither regarded man” can act in the best interests of others, even if repeated attempts are needed, how then could the individual who loves you more than you can imagine deny you your righteous desires? God will not leave us without aid. He will not leave us without the means to get through.

                I have seen this in my own life. As my husband fought aggressive, and ultimately terminal, leukemia, we prayed more times than I can remember that things would be okay. We prayed for his recovery. We prayed for relief. Though our exact wishes were not recognized, our prayers were answered. We were given relief. We were given what we needed for things to work out for us. We were given the means whereby we could have our righteous desires.

                We prayed so often and the blessing did not come at first. We had to keep praying and keep waiting, trusting in His Plan and power. We knew that if we could hang on to that knowledge we could make it until we had what we needed.

                Waiting is hard. There is so much uncertainty in waiting. For that very reason we must persist. We must have faith that He hears us and trust that His power will be manifest at the right time in the right way.