Strength To A Widow

Luke 18: 5. Yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

What truths can we hold as unto us, in our weak, helpless, needy and poor conditions? For those of you who are as the widow, deeply in need of help because of a pressing, overpowering urgent need, there is good, cheery news for you. In your weak, powerless state, God’s providential grace is mightily working for you and by you, in secret ways, which only God can materialize.

May I remind you that our Lord is using His parable to help us in our vulnerable states, to see strength, not in the world’s way, but strength in His eyes, nonetheless. I found this to be most stabilizing, intriguing and thoroughly refreshing, to see and listen to the wonder working power and authority of God in some most surprising ways. Almighty God used, the simplest, the mildest, the most humbling and menial ways, to inject the impossible into the improbable. Stay close here now. On the double. We are gleaning things from the text.

Position - The first thing God uses to us, is the position of the woman. This was her position in life at present. She was a widow. She was not always a widow, but life deals us all hard blows at one time or another and we have no say in the matter. She is in a very singular state, a poor state to be exact. Jesus uses such a position to show how His strength could be seen in one who is weak.

Is your position one of weakness at the moment? Whatever your weakness is, you did not live with it before. However, life has dealt you a felling blow and has left you without the strength you once had. Be not dismayed by your weakness. God is right there at hand and He is the only versatile One to bring strength out of your weakness. Look at Him work!

Persistence – The second thing God uses to us is the persistence of the woman. Have you noticed how her manner is described by the judge? He speaks about her, continual coming. Be it known that if she had no hope of being helped, she would not have been so painfully and faithfully persistent. Hope gives the courage and strength to keep persevering. This needy one is in a sorry state, because she is not receiving any hopeful responses from the one who can help her. In fact, though he notices her, he does not give her what she needs from him. This is truly a sad state of affairs. Nevertheless, she is doggedly persistent. 

Is your persistence unwearied and sustained at the moment? Are you facing a most sorry time where you are seeking help daily but no one is forthcoming? Even when your present responses are not favourable in the least, keep persisting, for God is observing your manner. He is the only Powerful One to use your persistence and carve victorious results from it.

Look at Him work!

Patience – The third thing God uses to us, is the patience of the woman. The word patience is not used in the text, however, patience is written all over the moves, manner and marshalling of this widow. What do I mean? Let’s reason for a bit. The judge is commenting on the widow so he must be seeing her each time she comes around. It is his language that sheds perfect light on the patience of the widow. He never speaks of her coming and being aggressive, boisterous and brandishing placards for example. There is nothing in his words to suggest even, she comes with weapons or a gang, threatening the judge’s life or any member of his family. Yet, something about her coming, stirred this hard judge to favourable action, more than any physical, persuasion. Note his admittance, yet because this widow troubles me. Dogged, incalculable, relentless patience is what we observe in this powerless one.

Is your patience one of resilience, unbroken hope at the moment? Regardless of how the hours fly by and you are not receiving your help, be not wearied down in your patience-seeking and hoping.  God is present and in His inimitable way, He is the only Almighty One to bring action out of your powerlessness. Look at Him work!