“And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.” (1Kings 18:43)
Elijah predicted a drought that lasted about ten years. During this time, Ahab the king of Israel was after Elijah. He blamed Elijah for the drought and famine God had sent as a judgement because of his idolatry. God commands Elijah to go to Ahab and He will send rain. After God shows Himself to be the one and only true God by raining fire over a water-soaked altar, Elijah slays all the prophets of Baal and Elijah tells Ahab that it will rain. (1 Kings 18:1-41)
Elijah goes up to Mount Carmel and prays. He commands his servant to look toward the Mediterranean Sea. And although the Scripture is not explicit, we understand that the servant is to see if there is any sign of rain. He reports to Elijah that there is nothing. God said there would be rain. God is not a liar. His Word is established in heaven. So, Elijah tells the servant to go again seven times. Elijah knew God would fulfill His Word. This is the kind of assurance in God’s Word that pleases God. It’s free from uncertainty, hesitancy or doubt. And although there was no sign of rain, Elijah was so certain it would come that he commanded his servant to look for it seven times.
Luke records the parable Jesus told about the persistent widow to show that we should pray and not get discouraged when the response to our prayer doesn’t seem to come. “And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;” (Luke 18:1) The unjust judge whom no one could sway, moved to help the widow because she was persistent. Jesus ends the parable with two questions: “And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:7-8)
Jesus Himself answers the first question. Yes, God will respond to our persistent prayers and “speedily.” Paul wrote to the Romans about the true marks of a Christian. “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;” (Romans 12:12) And he wrote to the Ephesians to put on the whole armor of God and to pray. “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” (Ephesians 6:18) In his exhortation to the Philippians he writes, “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7) And Jesus asked and is still asking, “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?”
There are a few things to consider in praying. Do we have faith? And will we be persistent and persevere? Many enter prayer with what they think is faith, but which is pleading to twist God’s arm to get Him to do what they ask. That is not faith in praying. God has given to us promises that are as sure, settled and fixed as God’s Word to Elijah. Elijah believed God. When we pray, have this mindset that if God said it, He will do it. So how do we pray? We pray in a worshipful manner because God is Good and has promised us already what we need. We worship Him because His Word is True. We worship Him because He is faithful. We worship Him because He is a Covenant God Who keeps His promises. That is praying in faith.
The other question is, will we be persistent and persevere? One would think that if we believe God, we will persevere. But sometimes, the situation is so urgent to us, we feel that if God doesn’t answer our prayer immediately, His answer is no. But God has His perfect time. We may or may not intuitively know the why. But if we’re in communion with the Lord, we will know why our prayer tarries. Sometimes the reason is in us and the work the Lord is doing in us. Another reason may be what He is working is others. Whatever the reason, God’s time is perfect, and we must persevere because if He promised, the answer is never no.
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