Never Stop Praying

“Never give up praying. And when you pray, keep alert and be thankful.”—Colossians 4:2 CEV

How do we respond when we encounter obstacles we can’t seem to overcome? When we face adversaries who seem stronger than we are? When we experience situations that do not seem to have solutions?

We can be frustrated if we have prayed but don’t sense an immediate change. It can seem our prayers don’t help. These can be discouraging moments. At times like these, we can be tempted to stop trying. But the Bible encourages us to have a different attitude. We’re never to give up.

To illustrate this principle, Jesus told a story about a widow who had a nagging problem (Luke 18:1–7). She appealed to the judge deciding her case, but he would not change. Still, she persisted until the judge finally granted her request. He concluded, “I will help this widow because she keeps on bothering me.” She had worn him out.

Jesus told this story to teach us to “keep on praying and never give up,” and to be persistent.

No matter what we face, we must never give up. We are to keep praying. “Keep alert and be thankful.” Be confident that God hears our prayers. Have faith because we can trust Him.

Remember to make your requests known to God in a spirit of thanksgiving. When you apply this principle, the Bible promises that God’s peace will keep your heart and mind (Philippians 4:6–7). Never give up!

Reflection Question: Write a prayer for something you’ve been asking God for a long time.