Both of our Bible readings talk of struggle. Jacob is travelling to meet up with his brother Esau, whose birth-right and blessing he stole years before.

He’s worried and nervous and needs time alone to think things through; prepare himself. But he finds himself in an all-night battle with someone he later realises was God who visited him, fought with him, changed him and strengthened him in many ways. God’s blessing enabled him to move on knowing God was with him.

And then we have the parable of the widow and the unjust judge; probably a paid judge appointed by King Herod or by the Romans. Such men were notorious. Unless a person had influence and money to bribe the judge, they had no hope of ever getting their case settled.

In contrast there is the widow, who is a symbol of all who are poor and defenseless. Without resources she had no hope of ever getting justice from the judge. But she had a secret weapon – one known to every child who badly wants something – pester power – persistence along with determination. 

Let’s face it most parents have given in to it at some point, for a bit of peace. Persistence and determination are powerful forces.

The Judge is not offered as a picture of what God is like. What Jesus means is that if this callous judge could be moved to act by the widow’s persistence, how much more will God answer people’s prayers for justice.

Previously he was asked ‘When will the Kingdom come?’ Jesus wouldn’t give a date or a prediction when God’s justice will finally reign, but instead tells us how to behave while we wait – we are to pray.

This parable is about the power of prayer.

God will hear and answer. He is the opposite of the unjust judge – He is a God of love. The important bit is the need for perseverance in prayer – not to wear God down so that he’ll change his mind and give us what we want. We are to keep on praying because the more we do, the more we learn to be open to God and the more we learn what He wants.

Jesus ends on a slightly tetchy note. There is just a hint of despair in Jesus’ words, when he says when he returns, ‘will he find faith on the earth?’ How many of us will he discover continuing in obedience and hope, prayer and persistence?

The message of encouragement looked ahead to the days that would follow his ministry, when his disciples would wait in perplexity through persecution and hardship.

That encouragement is equally relevant in our own day, for those who face persecution, for their faith and those who face apathy towards their Christian witness.

We see lots of sport on our televisions.
Sportsmen and women train hard to be fit and strong.

Our Christian journey is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires perseverance and dedication. Our training is our time spent with God – reading his word, spending time with him in prayer not just talking, but also listening for his voice.

Like Jacob we will have times when we struggle, when life throws things our way that are challenging and hard.

A close relationship with God and a healthy prayer life will see us through and out the other end – usually spiritually stronger.

May we all strive to regularly persist in prayer.

Amen