Peace To The Weary

In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with this plea. ‘Grant me justice from my adversary.’ For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me! And the Lord said, Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth? Luke 18: 2 – 8

Jesus is teaching His disciples and you, that the temptation to give up in prayer must never be entertained. Listen to this parable again and this time, may we all receive release and relief. You are asking God to do something about your present, persistent problem. You have asked and asked in so many different ways. You are becoming weary with asking. The problem now, is not the thing for which you are asking, but your very asking.

Get this picture of the woman in the parable, which Jesus told to His disciples, you and me also, to show them that they should pray and not give up. Luke 18: 1b. She is already a broken woman, broken by death, and she has an adversary that is tormenting, tantalizing and torturing her. She has been relentless in asking the judge, the one person able to help her gain release and peace, from that which is making her life a living hell.

Are you like the woman, this widow? Are you a person, male or female, who lives with some loss and although you know that you can live with it, there is something else, an adversary, that now torments you? You have prayed, begged, cried, pleaded with the Lord about it, yet it continues to get worse and plague you nonstop, as you seek help. Alas! No, help comes to you. You become weary, but be not deceived, your weariness comes because you are becoming heavy, too heavy, with this going backwards and forwards in prayer. You are drained, tired and unable to keep that energy in prayer. You are waning in faith and trust, not because you do not believe in God, but because your mental, physical, emotional and spiritual energy, are all being weakened. You are weary with asking, and waiting, and looking. Your spiritual zeal is weakening fast.

You need to admit some truths about yourself and your praying, as you have been asking God for that which will bring you relief and peace.

The first thing to admit is that you are becoming: Weary in your Praying. This praying is becoming too heavy an exercise for you. You are not saying that God does not answer your requests. You are not saying that God does not care, but what you are saying, is that you are becoming increasingly weary in asking.

You are losing your footing in Praying.

The second thing to admit is that you are becoming: Weary in your Waiting. Your problem now is that time for you is not coming on. Nothing is taking place to give you relief and release. The time is going by slowly for you. Time is dragging its heels for you, for it is taking too long. For you, waiting on time, waiting without any changes, really drags you down.

You are losing your footing in Waiting.

The third thing to admit is that you are becoming: Weary in your Expecting. You have been asking and waiting, for you have been asking day in and day out. But alas! There is no response that impacts your situation. There is nothing happening to help. All you receive is the despair and disappointment of waiting, expecting and receiving nothing.

You are losing your footing in Expecting.

The fourth thing to admit is that you are becoming: Weary in your Returning. You are so weary with asking and not receiving, that you do not have the zeal or energy to return to praying. Your weariness is making you a bit sceptical. You do not have the drive to want to ask anymore. You become totally drained at this point. All that you are receiving is weariness and it is affecting you physically, emotionally and spiritually.

You are losing your footing in Returning.

Return to the parable which Jesus tells of the particular judge who has no fear of God and no care of people. Compare this judge, who is the only one with power and authority to help the widow, with your Judge, the only One with the power and authority to help you in your situation.

The judge is an uncaring judge, but the Lord is a caring Judge. The widow is nothing to the judge, but one of his subjects, a person living in his jurisdiction. God calls you His chosen one, because you are His child, in His jurisdiction.

This judge does not really care about the widow, her troubles, her situation or anything like that. Your God cares about you and everything that troubles you and keeps you from enjoying the life, which He has promised you.

The judge will never dream of telling that widow to call him father, or friend even. Your God tells you to call Him Father and Jesus says that you are no longer servant, but friend.

The judge keeps putting this weary and worn woman off and does not give her justice quickly. He waits and waits, not concerned about her at all, nor all that the adversary is doing to her. Jesus is quite clear in saying that God will see that those who come to Him will get justice and get it quickly.

The judge helps the widow, but for selfish reasons. He does not want to be wearied out by her persistence. Our Lord helps His children because of His selfless Love. No one is too heavy for Him, nor can He be wearied by them, calling Him all the time.

All I know is that Jesus is talking to us also. Now, this is what I call the Always and Never of the one who is praying. As long as you are praying in the Spirit’s will, always pray and never give up.

Always know that God is never like that uncaring judge.
Always know that the Lord will bring about justice for His chosen ones and never will He keep putting them off.
Always know that He will see that His own get justice quickly, for He will never ignore those who are suffering and who keep calling on Him.

Dear believer, all I know is that Jesus is telling us that we must never be weary in asking God for that which will give us peace. He knows what humans are like and how very weary we can become in prayer. We are being drawn, through this parable, to a God who cares about us and will bring us justice and give it to us quickly. God is not a God to keep putting His children off. Compare Him with the judge and see that even with one so crude and callous, the widow received what she asked for.

Will not the Father give to you what you ask for? When all you need is peace from the adversary, when you are being tormented day in and day out with no sign of relief, keep praying. Ever keep in mind that the woman received her peace from one who was uncaring and harsh. And will not our God and Father, give you His peace?