(Luk) 18:1, 7-9, 14 CJB “Then Yeshua told his talmidim a parable, in order to impress on them that they must always keep praying and not lose heart. Now won’t God grant justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Is he delaying long over them? I tell you that he will judge in their favor, and quickly! But when the Son of Man comes, will he find this trust on the earth at all?” Also, to some who were relying on their own righteousness and looking down on everyone else, he told this parable: I tell you, this man went down to his home right with God rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but everyone who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Jesus told His disciples a parable specifically to teach them that they “must always keep praying and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1 CJB).

That tells us something important about prayer.

Jesus knew there would be times when His followers would be tempted to stop praying.

Praying Without Losing Heart Means Trusting God’s Timing

Jesus asks:

“Now won’t God grant justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night?”

The answer is yes.

But God’s promise doesn’t mean every wrong will immediately be made right or every prayer will be answered according to our preferred timing.

Some things for which we pray now—complete healing, perfect justice, total restoration, the end of suffering—will only be fully realized when Christ’s kingdom comes in its fullness.

Jesus Himself prayed in Gethsemane that, if possible, the cup might pass from Him. Yet He submitted Himself completely to His Father’s will.

Faith isn’t confidence that God will do what I want. Faith is confidence in God when He doesn’t.

So we keep praying.

God does intervene. He heals. He provides. He delivers. He opens doors no man could open. Therefore, we boldly ask Him to act.

But we also pray as Jesus taught us:

“May your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven.”

We ask for glimpses of His kingdom now while confidently awaiting the day when His righteous reign will be perfectly revealed.

Prayer Requires Trust, Not Self-Righteousness

Luke then records another parable.

This one is directed toward people “who were relying on their own righteousness and looking down on everyone else.”

One man approached God confident in himself.

Another approached God knowing he needed mercy.

Jesus said the humble man went home right with God.

That’s critical to understanding prayer.

We don’t approach God because we’ve been good enough to deserve His attention.

We come because Christ has made the way for sinners to approach a holy God.

Our confidence isn’t:

“God should listen to me because I’m a good man.”

Our confidence is:

“God welcomes me because I belong to Jesus.”

The more clearly we understand God’s holiness, the more astonishing His grace becomes. Jesus perfectly accomplished the Father’s will, gave Himself for our sins, rose from the dead, and now intercedes for His people.

Therefore, prayer should produce humility rather than pride.

We come as beloved children—not because we’re worthy of such love, but because our Father has graciously made us His own through Christ.

Keep Asking. Keep Trusting.

Men, some of you are carrying prayers you’ve prayed for years.

Don’t lose heart.

You may see God’s answer tomorrow.

You may see Him answer differently than you expected.

Or you may discover that complete restoration awaits the kingdom Christ will establish when He returns.

But praying without losing heart means my confidence doesn’t ultimately rest in the outcome I’m requesting.

My confidence rests in the God I’m asking.

He is good.

He is righteous.

He hears His children.

And ultimately, His will shall be done.

Run Today’s Play

Identify one prayer you’ve become discouraged about praying.

Bring it to God again today.

Ask boldly for what you desire. Then deliberately surrender the outcome:

“Father, I trust Your character, Your timing, and Your purposes more than I trust my understanding of what should happen.”

Then keep praying tomorrow.

Don’t measure God’s faithfulness by whether today’s circumstances changed.

Pray persistently. Walk humbly. Trust completely.

The King is coming. Justice will prevail. His kingdom will come.

Don’t lose heart.