We had a very lively discussion about Luke 18:1-8, which is the Parable of the Unjust Judge. In this parable, Jesus tells of a widow who keeps going to an unjust judge looking for justice against her adversary. The judge really doesn’t care about her (or anyone else, it appears), so he keeps turning her away. But she keeps coming, and he finally decides to just give her what she wants so she won’t keep bothering him.
Jesus begins the story by imploring his audience to never stop praying, and to not lose heart.
We thought that was the real message of the parable. Jesus doesn’t want people giving up hope when God is absolutely there and able to provide what they need – and unlike the unjust judge, God actually cares about you. The only thing the widow had going for her in this situation was her persistence, and that turned out to be all she needed.
Once people give up hope, they not only stop trying, they also stop caring because they figure there’s no point. Nothing good is coming. That’s a trap Jesus doesn’t want any of us to fall into.