Anya checked her phone. It was time. She folded the last of the laundry and hurried down the street. The bus should arrive in a few minutes, but lately they’d been running late. Still, she wouldn’t want Maddie to get there before she did.  

As she approached the bus stop, she waved at Kate. As she drew nearer, it was clear Kate had been crying. “What’s wrong?”

Kate dabbed at her eyes. “You can tell?” She frowned. “I’m trying to put on a happy face for Liam. I don’t want him to know I was crying.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Kate bit her bottom lip and glanced down the street. “We should have a few minutes. I guess so.” She frowned. “I’m really worried about my brother. He walked away from God when he graduated from high school, and he’s made some unfortunate choices. He got involved in drugs and spent some time in jail. We’ve been praying for him for years, but I just found out he was arrested again for possession. He’s going to go back to jail, and it could be a long sentence this time.”

Anya wrapped her arms around Kate. “I’m so sorry.”

Kate sank into the embrace and then pulled back, swallowing hard. “Even though he’s had problems, he’s still a great uncle and Liam adores him. I’m not sure how to tell Liam his uncle might not be around for a while. Maybe even for years.”

Anya blew out a breath. “That’s a tough one. I’ll pray you can find the right words for Liam to understand.”

“But that’s just it. Brian just turned 40. We’ve been praying for him to turn around for 20 years. God clearly isn’t listening.”

“Oh, Kate. God is listening. But He doesn’t have the same timing we do. He can soften Brian’s heart, but it’s up to Brian to make the choice whether to listen.”

“How long does it take? I’m just so tired of praying the same prayers over and over.”

Anya studied the sidewalk for a moment, and an idea emerged. “Would you and Liam like to stop by our house for a bit? The kids can play on the swing set. There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”

Moments later, the big yellow bus pulled up to the stop, and Maddie and Liam exited. Kate and Anya bent down and hugged their first graders.

“Liam, honey, how would you like to play on Maddie’s swing set for a few minutes before we go home?”

Liam grinned. “OK, Mommy.” The foursome made their way down the street. As they approached Anya’s house, the kids ditched their backpacks in the driveway and ran to the playground area in the backyard.

Anya turned to Kate. “If you watch the kids for a moment, I need to stop next door.”

Kate nodded, set the backpacks on the porch, and followed the children.

Anya continued down the sidewalk to Mrs. Jackson’s house. She knocked twice and called through the screen. “Mrs. Jackson? It’s Anya. May I come in?”

“Of course, dear.”

Anya stepped inside, where Mrs. Jackson sat on her sofa, knitting needles in hand. She leaned over and kissed her elderly neighbor on her cheek. “Do you feel up to going outside today? I’d like you to meet a friend of mine.”

Mrs. Jackson brightened. “Of course, dear. Hand me my sweater.”

Anya grabbed the cardigan from the end of the sofa and helped Mrs. Jackson put it on. She led her to her walker and stayed close by as she maneuvered the walker along the path between their yards. Anya led her to the patio and settled her in a chair.

Kate joined them a moment later, after lifting the cover off the sandbox for the children.

Anya smiled at her friends. “Kate, this is Mrs. Jackson. She’s lived here for decades.”

Kate took Mrs. Jackson’s outstretched hand, and Anya addressed her neighbor. “Kate has been praying for her brother for 20 years, and she was wondering about God’s timing.”

Mrs. Jackson’s eyes lit. “Oh, my dear. I have a story for you.” She pulled her sweater tighter around her shoulders. “My boy Curtis left for Vietnam when he was 18, and when he came back, he was never the same. I prayed for him day and night the whole time he was over there, and God brought him home. At least his body came home. He was haunted by what he saw in the war. He drank too much, and talked too little. We begged him to go to church, but he said if there was war, there was no God.”

Anya glanced at Kate, whose gaze was fixed on Mrs. Jackson’s. Mrs. Jackson continued. “Curtis turned 70 a few years back, and ended up in the hospital after a heart attack. Nearly died. When I went to visit him, he lay there in that bed and stared at me. He said ‘Mama? Do you still pray for me?’ I brought my chair right up close to that bed and I told him the honest truth. I said ‘Curtis, I been praying for you since the day you was born, and I won’t stop till the day I die.’ And that stubborn 70 year old man got tears in his eyes and grabbed my hand. He said ‘Mama, I think I’m ready to make my peace.’ My heart just about exploded with happiness. Curtis has been coming round ever since, making sure I’m ok and taking me to church on Sundays. So no, 20 years isn’t too long. It took over 50 for my boy, but God answered my prayers.”

Tears rolled down Kate’s cheeks and she rose from her seat. “I know we just met, but can I give you a hug?”

Mrs. Jackson smiled. “Of course, child. Now tell me your brother’s name. I want to pray for him, too.”

Luke 18:1-8

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’

And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?  I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. 

God, if even the unjust are swayed by persistence, how much more are You, who love us and want what’s best for us. You tell us not to give up, to continue in prayer. Sometimes our prayers seem unheard. But if we truly reach out to You, You hear our prayers. We don’t always get the answer we want or expect, but You always answer, even if the answer is no, or not yet. Please help us persist in prayer, especially for the salvation of those around us. Only You know their hearts. Help us to be good witnesses and diligent in our prayers. In Jesus’ name, Amen.