Genesis 32:22–31; 2 Timothy 4:1–5; Luke 18:1–8
Introduction
During wars in the Old Testament era, spies were sent ahead to monitor the direction of their enemies. They would hide in the mountains to give signals to their army. The army counts so much on this signal to indicate its war strategy. Sometimes, they lift up their eyes to the mountain, hoping to receive signals, but receive none since their spies may have been overpowered by their enemies already.
So the psalmist sings, "I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." (Psalms 121:1-2). In essence, when the spies (my plan) fail me, my help comes from the LORD. It is said that we set horses and chariots for the war, but victory comes from the Lord. Our success is not in our human arrangements but comes from our LORD and Saviour.
Have you ever been in a state of despair and begun to wonder if Heaven had gone silent on you? Maybe you prayed for a healing, marriage, birth, job, or a child’s salvation, and it seemed God was slow to respond. That is where the struggle of persistence in prayer is practical. Never give up, don't lose hope, our God is faithful.
Persistence in Prayer Brings Transformation
The word "persistent" is a translation of the Greek word "epimeno," which means to be constantly diligent; to attend assiduously; to adhere closely to; to continue instant in; to be steadfast with a person or thing. It is about a strong sense of consistent continuation toward achieving something.
In Genesis 32, Jacob wrestled all night with God. He refused to let go until he received a blessing. His story teaches us that prayer is not just about speaking; it is also about persistence, determination, and holding on until God releases what He has promised. In Scripture Union, we have a slogan: PUSH! PUSH!! PUSH!!! - Pray Until Something Happens.
Jacob’s encounter with God was both physical and spiritual. He wrestled until dawn, symbolizing the believer’s perseverance in prayer. Beloved in Christ, prayer is not just some ritual to be performed, but it is a relationship that sometimes demands wrestling through doubt, delay, and discouragement. We never cease until we receive the expected results.
John Wesley once said, “God does nothing except in response to a believer's prayer." Prayer is the lifeline of the Christian, not optional, but essential. Like Jacob, our persistence without giving up in prayer shapes us into people God can bless.
Jacob, after the long struggle with God, ended up limping because "He touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched." (Genesis 32:25). In our persistence in prayer, we may have some casualties like name-calling, rejection, persistent pains, humiliation, etc., but victory will surely be ours. We never give up.
Persistent in Prayer is Trust
Jesus Christ, in Luke 18, reinforced the truth of persistence in prayer when He tells the parable of the persistent widow that we should always pray and not give up. Due to persistence, justice came to the widow. Jesus puts it, "And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?" (Luke 18:7)
According to Pastor Mensa Otabil, persistent prayer is the practice of continuously praying until a desired outcome is achieved, which opens "stubborn doors" and aligns your will with that of God.
Jesus used this parable to contrast the unjust judge with our righteous God. If persistence can move a reluctant human judge, how much more can it move our loving Father?
Our persistence in prayer indicates our full trust in God's process. The woman believed that her persistence would surely yield her expectation, so she kept on knocking on the judge's door. Giving up in prayer is a sign of lost trust. Your reluctance to persist in prayer is your lost of trust in the providence of your Maker.
As a reformed theologian, we emphasize the assurance of God's providence in answering our prayers. Even when prayers seem unanswered, the believer rests in the knowledge that God’s plan and purpose for us is uncompromised; therefore, we never lose trust in Him. To persist in prayer is to keep faith in the God who never sleeps nor slumbers to bring unto us the desired results in His perfect will.
Persistence in prayer is grounded in trust. We keep praying, because we know “He who watches over Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.” Our God hears us, so persistence in prayer is our expression of faith and total trust in His guidance and will.
Persistent Prayer Sustains Ministry
Paul writes to Timothy, saying, “Be ready in season and out of season.” Persistent prayer is the source of our spiritual endurance. One cannot say, I am weak to pray. "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans." (Romans 8:26). God sustains us through the wordless groans of the Spirit on our behalf, so we ought to be persistent in prayer to activate this intercession.
No one can say I do not know what to say in prayer. Paul taught us, "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." (Ephesians 6:18)
Conclusion
Beloved, Jacob limped away from Peniel, but he left with a new name, Israel. Persistence in prayer might leave you with a limp, but it will never leave you empty-handed.
