Be Persistent  

By Neva Bodin

Last December, a man planning to rob a bank in Colorado handed the teller a note. The note was apparently illegible, and while the teller struggled to read it, the would-be bank robber apparently got nervous and left without any money. Probably no penmanship class in his school. He should have just voiced his wishes or typed them out on his cell phone. Or been more persistent!

I shopped at a local art store and bought some merchandise worth $12.83. I handed the pretty young female clerk a twenty-dollar bill. She was unable to figure out my change. “I flunked math! Really!” she informed me. I believed her. She should have been more persistent in learning math.

I went to a local office supply store, and a handsome young man asked if he could help me. I said I was looking for the return address labels I could print myself. He asked, “What are you going to use them for?” As we searched, he asked, “What do you do with them?” When I found them and showed him where they were located, he again asked, “What do you use them for?” Luckily, the package had an illustration on the front. He was definitely persistent in trying to understand what return address labels were for!

I feel really ancient because what I took for granted and common knowledge growing up doesn’t seem so common anymore. Even in how we talk to God. I haven’t heard a “thy” or “thou,” in a prayer except in The Lord’s Prayer for a long time.

I wonder what the answer would be if we asked everyone we meet if they are persistent when they talk to God. I sort of vary there.

When our oldest daughter was about four and full of questions about everything, and I couldn’t always answer them, I put the responsibility on God and said we’d have to ask him. She said, “When I get to heaven, I’m going to ask the pants off of God!” (I wonder where she heard that expression!) She would go to God directly with no fear. I like that.

However, she was persistent when wanting something from me, too. Having a persistent child who sometimes needed a “no” when I am a people pleaser didn’t always make for easy parenting. But she definitely wasn’t afraid to come directly and ask (or demand) what she wanted and to keep at it until I gave in and said yes. (Or lost my patience.)

In a parable in Luke 11:8, Jesus tells us we are to not be afraid to persist in asking for what we need. Perhaps God will say no, as it wouldn’t be in our best interest, or he will respect our persistence and grant us our request. We can even write multiple notes to God. And I bet he can read them even if they’re illegible! Or our smartphone can correct them for us! (A tip to future bank robbers.)

I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity, he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. Luke 11:8 (NIV) (Underlining mine.)