“Father, Will You Answer Me?”

Lessons in being persistent in prayer: God is willing to give us the desires of our hearts, but are we willing to go the distance in pursuing Him until those right desires have been fulfilled?

Have you ever given up on God because He did not grant your request when you felt you needed Him the most? Or maybe you’ve become spiritually burned-out, feeling abandoned and tired of beseeching God. Have you wondered if He’s listening to your requests anymore?

In prayer, as in all aspects of life, persistence is a key to success. Napoleon Hill wrote, “Lack of persistence is one of the major causes of failure. Moreover, experience with thousands of people has proved that lack of persistence is a weakness common to the majority of men” (Think and Grow Rich, 1960 ed., p. 132).

For God’s people, a lack of persistence can cause spiritual failure in our pursuit of answers to our prayers.

What size fire do you have?

Napoleon Hill continued, “The ease with which lack of persistence may be conquered will depend entirely upon the intensity of one’s desire. The starting point of all achievement is desire. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desires bring weak results, just as a small amount of fire makes a small amount of heat. If you find yourself lacking in persistence, this weakness may be remedied by building a stronger fire under your desires” (ibid.).

What size fire do you have burning under your desire for God to answer your prayer? Is it strong enough to motivate you to go the distance with God until He fulfills that desire?

While they were slaves in Egypt, the children of Israel went the distance with God. They were in bondage for many years. They cried out to God for deliverance out of the cruel hands of Pharaoh and his taskmasters (Deuteronomy 26:6-8).

They pursued God with a burning desire until, finally, God answered their prayers and delivered them out of Egypt (Exodus 12:41).

A gentile of persistence and faith

Another powerful example was set by a gentile woman from Canaan who went the distance seeking Christ’s healing for her daughter who was possessed by a demon (Matthew 15:21-28). She cried out to Christ, asking Him to have mercy on her and her daughter.

But Christ did not answer her request, and the disciples urged Him to send her away. Then Christ answered in verse 24, saying; “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

At this point, you would think her pursuit would have ended. But she was persistent. She came and worshipped Christ, saying, “Lord, help me!” (verse 25).

He replied, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs” (verse 26).

She replied, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table” (verse 27).

Then Jesus said, “‘O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed from that very hour” (verse 28).

Her passionate desire for her daughter’s healing was greater than the rejection she received in her pursuit. She pursued Christ in faith because she knew He could heal her daughter. In this account, we see her persistence, her faith and her passionate desire for Christ to heal her daughter.

Never give up in pursuit of God’s help

We must persistently seek God in faith, because “without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

When we pray, God wants us to faithfully, through patience, humility and persistence, expect His help. But we must pray fervently to Him with the intensity of our desire.

The great fire under our desire

David tells us, “Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass” (Psalm 37:4-5).

If we feel our prayers are not being answered, we should check our motives (James 4:3) and make sure we are seeking God’s will.

Let us pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), never giving up and daily going boldly before the throne of God with persistence, humility and faith, knowing and believing that He will answer us and faithfully fulfill the right desires of our hearts.

For more about prayer, see our Frequently Asked Question "How Does God Want Us to Pray?"

Peter Holmes resides in Indianapolis, Indiana, along with his wife of 31 years, Schelleta. He serves the Indianapolis congregation as a deacon.