Jesus once told a parable about a persistent widow. Day after day she approached the judge in her city saying, "Give me justice against my adversary" (Luke 18:3 ESV). The problem was, the judge did not fear God or care about people. That is one dangerous combination. But it didn't deter the woman. She kept coming back to him. Every day when he looked at his caseload, she was on the list. Her persistence finally paid off. One day the unjust judge had had enough. He had a good talk with himself. He said to himself - and maybe to his court reporter! - "Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming" (Luke 11:4-5 ESV). The woman who wouldn't take "No" for an answer was finally vindicated.

Please note that Jesus gave this parable "to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart" (v. 1). Do you sometimes lose heart and as a result, quit praying? I know it's easy to do. I have been praying about an adversary for many years and, as yet, God has not seen fit to answer that prayer. But I believe He will some day. For some His answer comes "speedily" (see v. 8) but for others it comes in God's good (and perfect) timing. The point is, God will give justice to his elect, "who cry to him day and night" (v. 7). That is the lesson of today's text. Don't give up. Keep on praying. Our Lord is not like the "unjust judge." He does respect us. He does care for us. He will make room for us on His caseload. He will not consider us a "bother." He invites us to bring out burdens to Him, and to cast our every care upon Him.

I remember an old song sung by The Statesmen Quartet. It was written by Charles A. Tindley (b. 1916), sometimes called the Father of African-American Gospel Music. Consider the words..."Leave it there, Leave it there, take your burden to the Lord and leave it there. If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out, take your burden to the Lord and leave it there."