If you’ve ever prayed for something over and over and still not received an answer, you’re not alone. I’ve been there. And so have the greatest people of faith throughout history. The truth is, God wants you to keep on praying—because persistent prayer is one of the greatest expressions of faith.
Jesus made this clear when he told his disciples a parable “to show them that they should always pray and never give up” (Luke 18:1 NLT). In that story, a widow repeatedly asked a judge for justice. Though the judge didn’t fear God or care about people, he finally gave her what she asked for—because she kept coming back.
And this wasn’t the only time Jesus taught about persistence. In Luke 11, he told another parable about a man who kept knocking on his neighbor’s door at midnight until he got what he needed. Again, the point was the same: Don’t give up. Keep praying.
Now, if even an unjust judge or a reluctant neighbor can be moved by persistence, how much more will your loving heavenly Father respond when you keep seeking him in prayer?
So why does God ask us to keep praying?
Not because he’s hard of hearing or needs to be convinced. But because prayer does far more than move the hand of God—it shapes your heart to receive what he wants to give you.
I want to share four things that persistent prayer accomplishes in your life. When you keep praying, it . . .
1. Strengthens your faith.
Every time you return to God in prayer, you’re declaring: “I believe you hear me, and I trust you’ll answer in your perfect time and way.” That kind of faith grows stronger through repetition.
2. Reveals your motives.
The longer you pray about something, the more God will work in your heart. Over time, your motives and desires become clearer—both to you and to him. James 4:3 says, “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives” (NIV). Persistent prayer gives God the time and space to align your heart with his will.
3. Builds your character.
God is far more interested in your character than your comfort. When answers to prayer are delayed, God is giving you the opportunity to grow in patience, humility, dependence, and trust.
4. Prepares you for the answer.
Sometimes you’re just not ready for what God wants to give you. Persistent prayer gives God the chance to prepare you—to enlarge your capacity and readiness to receive his blessing.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:7, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you” (NLT).
Persistent prayer doesn’t wear God down.
It builds you up.
So whatever you’re praying for today—healing, breakthrough, provision, restoration—keep praying.
Trust God with the timing. Trust him with the outcome. And know that he’s using this season to do something deeper in you than you can imagine.
He hears you. He loves you. And he’s never late.
