Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
According to Scripture, prayer is not merely for our benefit or a pleasant option, but an obligation: "That men ought always to pray." Too often, prayer is seen as something we partake in if we desire or feel the need, but this mindset is far from the truth. If we live this way, we need to pray more than anyone. Prayer is a responsibility, and at times even a labor—it is the warfare of the Christian, as Ephesians 6 describes. Once we are suited in our armor, what is our duty? "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." Prayer is as much a duty as it is a delight, as much labor as it is lovely.
It is for this reason we sometimes grow weary; prayer can be difficult. When we wake up and are carried by His sweet presence, prayer comes easily, but what about those times when we can barely form a thought or a word due to life’s distractions? When prayer feels physically, mentally, and spiritually hard? Too often, we faint—that is why Jesus gave us the lesson of the unjust judge, encouraging us to keep praying and not give up. To "faint" is to lose consciousness, to be so exhausted that you cease to function. That has been my experience in prayer many times. The absence of God’s manifest presence, long delays in answers, distractions, and my own lack of strength and patience have often caused me to faint and neglect the command to "pray always." Yet, even if He delays His answers until the resurrection, all prayers will eventually be answered. In that day, every wrong will be made right and all tears wiped away. But even in this life, He often gives answers that sustain us.
"Praying always" appears many times in Scripture. It means exactly that—always. It may seem impossible, but if He commanded it, then He expects it, and by His grace, we can do it. Anything continuous must find its source in God, for He alone is always. He is always present, always good, always the same. We can pray always because we pray to an unchanging, always God. No matter the situation, God can always provide an answer, supply the need, forgive, and heal. So, pray always to your always God, for He is always sovereign and powerful.
Finally, the Lord asks: "When the Son of man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" Prayer is a matter of faith. If we faint, it’s from a lack of faith, and if we persevere, it’s by faith. Faith is belief in action, doctrine with discipline, conviction with consequence. If you believe He hears, then speak. If you believe He can, then ask. If you trust His promises, bring them to Him. Faith sustains prayer, even when answers are delayed, knowing God has a good reason. Unlike the unjust judge in the parable, our God is just and good. He knows every detail of what we pray for, has the power to resolve it, and is present even when He seems distant. Prayer is an act of faith—not just faith in what God will do, but faith in who God is. That is the essence of "praying always"—prayer grounded in God’s character rather than the answers we receive. The widow in the parable persisted because she was convinced of the judge’s ability. We too must set our eyes on God, not merely on the answers we seek. Pray always, and do not faint.
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