Youth · Day 2 of 7
Don't Give Up
Read: Luke 18:1-14 (KJV)
1And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 6And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? 9And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Read the whole chapter ›What it means
Luke tells us exactly why Jesus told this story: so that people would always pray and not 'faint,' which means give up. The widow in the parable has no power, no connections, and no money. The judge does not care about God or people. Yet she keeps showing up, and eventually he gives her justice. Jesus is not saying God is like that unjust judge. He is saying the opposite. If even a selfish judge finally responds to persistence, how much more will a loving God respond to His children who cry out to Him? Maybe you have prayed about something for a long time. A broken family situation. A friend who does not know Jesus. A struggle that will not seem to go away. It is easy to assume God is not listening. This passage says keep going. Then Jesus tells a second story about two men praying. The Pharisee brags about his own goodness and compares himself to others. The tax collector can barely look up, and simply asks for mercy. Jesus says the humble one went home right with God. Prayer is not about proving you deserve an answer. It is about coming honestly, again and again, to a God who is good.
Key verse
“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”
Luke 18:1 (KJV)
Journal it
- What is something you have stopped praying about because it felt like nothing was happening?
- Do you ever compare yourself to others spiritually, like the Pharisee did? What does that look like for you?
- Write a short, honest prayer like the tax collector's, asking God for what you really need.
Write your answers in a notebook or the notes app on your phone.