Persistence: A widow & A Syrophoenician Woman
‘Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”’ ~ Luke 18:1-5 NKJV
A widow in this particular city needed some intervention and the only person who could help her was a wicked judge. She had no choice but to go to him for help. He kept refusing, yet the more he resisted her, the more she kept going until he was worn out by her persistence. Needless to say, she got the help she needed.
A persistent person doesn’t give up even in opposition, resistance, or difficulty. Persistence is the ability to keep pushing, fighting, and pressing on toward one’s goals no matter how difficult the going may become. Negative energy and resistance do not stop a persistent person.
Basically, a widow is an exposed woman. She has no one to take care of her, provide, protect, or cover her. She is a woman with so many responsibilities and in most cases, she is ridiculed and looked down upon. In the eyes of many, she is vulnerable, weak and defenseless. No wonder the above widow had an adversary who had become a pain in her neck and it seems to me that this adversary was much stronger than her. All odds seemed to be against her because first, she was a widow. Secondly, she had an enemy and thirdly, the only person who could come to her rescue was a wicked judge. But she knew that she needed help and the wicked judge had that help she needed so much. She, therefore, decided not to bow to her adversary and allow him to keep on oppressing her, but to take the risk of going to seek help from the wicked judge, and she did. He resisted her for a while but at the end, he hearkened to her plea.
One amazing thing about persistence is that it is a powerful force that cannot be resisted even by the most difficult situations and people. It caused the wicked judge, even in his stubbornness to lose his resistance and yield to the demands of this widow. Persistent people never give up and they push themselves until they get what they want. Watch this;
‘And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.’ ~ Luke 11:5-8 NKJV
I believe that persistence and desperation are two things that cannot be separated because in most cases, persistence is borne out of our desperation for help. It is our desperation to have our desires met that makes us persistent in our prayers. It is our desperation to make it in life and live the kind of life we want that will make us fight against all odds in order to succeed. It is our desperation to reach our goals, achieve our dreams and visions that will make us persistent as we walk and work towards them. Persistence comes from the confidence and faith that the one we are seeking help from, even though they may resist us, is in a position to help us.
Persistence itself is a great sacrifice that rewards us greatly at the end of it all. Not many people have the capacity to hold on, keep on pushing and pressing on amidst resistance and refusal. Many do not live to see their efforts come to fruition because they give up too soon and turn their backs on their dreams, goals, visions, even prayers.
Look at the following scripture;
‘From there He arose and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden. For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet. The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs.” Then He said to her, “For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.” And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed.’ ~ Mark 7:24-30
One thing I believe this woman had was the confidence and faith that Jesus had the help she badly needed. That is why even though she was resisted, she refused to give up and continued to intercede on behalf of her daughter and Jesus granted her request. The difficulties and resistance that present themselves in our lives play an important role in building our tenacity and spiritual muscles if we don’t give up. Our highest attainments and goals are reached as we meet and master the difficulties and resistance that come our way as we pursue our goals. No matter how tough the going becomes, quitting should never be your option. Champions are marked by persevering in the most difficult situations. You need to toughen up and push yourself beyond limits until you get a hold of what you are after.
