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.’ ”
Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:1-8).
We see that Jesus told this parable to encourage us not to lose heart when our petitions are not immediately answered. We are to continue to pray. This widow didn’t give up. She went to that judge until he finally gave her what she wanted. He didn’t do it out of a sense of doing what was right and just but for a selfish reason–he wanted her to stop pestering him. She was wearing him down.
God, on the other hand, is a just Judge. He hears our cries and He answers them. Sometimes, the answer doesn’t come right away but we continue to pray. Like the widow, we don’t lose hope. Faith is patient.
Notes to Women 