We live at a time where it seems that notoriety is at an all time high. Names on streets are getting changed, names on buildings, and even the names of highways. Even bridges are being named for people who have done things of importance.  

I want to draw your attention to one of the nameless people in scripture that did great things but no name was given. We meet the Persistent Widow in the Bible in Luke 18. Prior to this in Luke 17: 20-37 Jesus was preparing His disciples for the coming of the kingdom.

He explained about the suffering that was to take place and how everyone would be going about their business, oblivious to what was about to happen, just as they are doing in 2026.  To some people it is business as usual.

Then He led into the parable of the Persistent Widow, but He prefaced it with a note that we should pray continually and not lose heart. We have been told that God knows all about our concerns, but we should pray without ceasing.

In a certain city lived an unjust judge who feared not God nor man. In that same city was a widow who had experienced mistreatment from an adversary. She went to the judge asking for justice. He ignored her pleas at first, but when she persisted, he finally gave in.

The judge said that though he didn’t care about God or man, he would give in to her just because she wouldn’t stop asking. After telling the story, Jesus explained that just as the unjust judge gave in because of the woman’s relentlessness. So God wants us to persevere in our prayers, even when it seems God is not answering us.

Generally, when Jesus told parables, He let them stand on their own. He didn’t try to explain them, knowing some would understand but many wouldn’t. In this case, however, He was specifically talking to His disciples, and He wanted to make sure they got what He was saying.

Right before this story, Jesus was preparing His disciples for what was to come. But, of course, they really couldn’t understand. None of it made sense to them, and He knew that. He knew they would get discouraged and lose heart. He knew they would feel alone and rejected. He knew they would need encouragement to not give up. So, he gave them this parable.

This is a story we can all relate to. We have all had issues that we’ve brought to God, and at first it seemed He wasn’t listening. We may even decide He doesn’t care. How often do we pray once and then forget about it? If something is important to us, we need to pray not just once or twice but over and over again.