Will He Find Faith When He Comes?

When I read Luke 18:1–8, one thing immediately stood out to me: Jesus wanted His people to keep praying and not give up. He told the story of a widow who continually came before an unjust judge asking for justice. The judge did not fear God and did not care about people, yet because she continued coming to him, he eventually responded.

Jesus was not saying that God is like this unjust judge. He was showing us the opposite. If even an unjust judge eventually responded to persistence, how much more will our righteous and loving God hear His children who cry out to Him?

This passage made me examine my own prayer life. God has been doing so many amazing things in my life. He has helped me in ways I could never have arranged myself. He has provided, protected, opened doors, solved problems, and carried my family through situations that could have gone very differently.

And yet I have to ask myself:

Am I spending enough time with the One who has done all of this? Sometimes we can receive God's blessings, thank Him briefly, and then continue running through life but prayer keeps me close to Him. Prayer reminds me that I am not the one holding everything together. Prayer keeps me humble. Prayer teaches me gratitude. Prayer reminds me where my help comes from and prayer is also connected to faith. At the end of this passage Jesus asks a very searching question:

“Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” — Luke 18:8 KJV

That question struck me. Prayer is one of the ways faith expresses itself. When I pray, I am saying, “Lord, I need You. I trust You. You can do what I cannot do.” When prayer disappears from my life, it can be a warning that I am beginning to depend too much on myself.

And especially in uncertain times, I do not want my faith to become weaker. I want to become a person who looks to God more, not less. God has already shown me again and again that He is faithful. So my response should not simply be to enjoy what He has done. My response should be to draw nearer to Him.

I want prayer to become one of the most important parts of my life not only when something is wrong, but when everything is going well too. Because I need God just as much in the blessing as I do in the battle and when Christ returns, I want to be found trusting Him, seeking Him, praying, and living by faith.

Reflection

How is my prayer life right now? Do I pray mainly when I need something, or am I spending time with God because I love Him and depend on Him? God has already been faithful in so many ways. Today I want to respond by drawing closer to Him in prayer.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for all the ways You have helped me, protected me, provided for me, and answered prayers that sometimes I did not even know how to pray. Forgive me when I enjoy Your blessings but do not spend enough time with You. Teach me to pray continually and not lose heart. Keep me humble, thankful, and dependent on You. Strengthen my faith so that in every season I will look to You first. When You return, may You find faith in me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.