Luke 18:3-5, “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.”
Jesus tells the incredible parable of the unjust judge in Luke 18:1-8,
likening God to him. Why would Jesus liken God the Father to an unjust
(unfair) judge, who regarded neither God nor man? Could it perhaps be
because many people accuse God of being unjust when they pray and He doesn't
answer? The unjust judge deliberately ignored the grieving widow.
Likewise, the Bible teaches that God ignores us when we pray as well. Hebrews 11:6 says it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God without faith. If everyone who prayed received immediate answers, then everyone would selfishly pray. If only Christians received immediate answers to pray, then everybody would want to become a Christian for selfish reasons, and not because of faith which please God. Think about that! I'm glad that God does everything the way that He does, because it forces people to trust Him or forsake Him. Do or die! We either continue praying when it seems hopeless, or else we put God on trial and quit praying, calling Him an UNJUST GOD. The latter is what most people do these days.
My friend, God DOES answer prayer, but in His own time, and in His own way. I've lived long enough to know that God is able to work behind the scenes in such a manner that no one can see or pin down what He is doing. If you try to pin down the hand of God, you will be disappointed.
Ecclesiastes 3:11, “He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.”
Did you understand that Scripture in Ecclesiastes 3:11? Despite all the prophecy in the Bible which reveals history in advance, God has kept it a mystery exactly how He does it all. The work of God is a big mystery. So many people these days think God is an UNJUST GOD because they can't bring Him down to man's level, and because God doesn't immediately and visibly answer their prayer requests. My friend, there is so much that we don't know nor understand.
I love the Old Testament book of Esther. In all 6 chapters we don't find the mention of “God” even once. Yet, in hindsight we clearly see God's hand of power and sovereignty at work in the lives of His people. Neither Esther, Mordecai or the Jews could see God's hand at work. All hope seemed lost. It appeared that the Jews would all be annihilated by wicked Haman, who conspired to kill them all. But God was still on His throne, and He answered the prayers of His own.
Jesus stated in Luke 18:1 that the parable of the unjust judge was intended to teach “that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” The unjust judge is irritated by the widow's continual cries for help. On the contrary, God is pleased by His children's continual request for help. God wants us to keep asking. In fact, He commands it. 1st Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” That means praying all the time, morning til evening and into the night. Why does God require us to continue praying to receive an answer? It's simply because God is pleased by FAITH (Hebrews 11:6). The more God ignores us, the greater our faith if we continue praying. Our duty is to pray, for there is nothing else we can do, than to trust God and cast all our burdens upon Him (1st Peter 5:7).
Prayer is asking, and asking is faith. People who use prayer as a therapy are denying the power of a personal God in Heaven Who answers prayer.
