We tend to convince others in one of three ways: We rely on our own credibility to persuade them, we appeal to their emotions, or use logic. Jesus wanted to convince His disciples—and us—that God answers prayer. So we read in Luke chapter 18 about a widow pleading with a judge to get justice from her enemy. The judge ignored her pleas for a while, but she kept coming back. Eventually, he gave her justice, saying “she is wearing me out with her constant requests!” Then Jesus said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly!” Jesus used His own credibility as well as the logic that if an unjust judge can be persuaded to grant justice to a powerless widow, how much more will our loving Heavenly Father answer the prayers of His own children. Jesus’ words should convince us that while our Heavenly Father acts with wisdom, He is totally reliable.
