This week’s lesson is about faith, but it begins with a parable on prayer. The connection between prayer and faith is obvious. If we lack faith, we cannot truly pray. If we do not believe that the Lord is listening, we would not bother talking to Him. When we allow ourselves to question if He hears, or cares, prayers tend to grow less fervent and heart-felt, less sincere and more automated. However, like many gospel things, the two are related; the more we pray, the more our faith increases, and the more faith we have, the more we pray.
The parable of the wicked judge is interesting. If you read it quickly, it might seem that the Lord will give in to us if we just plead with Him often enough. But this is not the case. The Lord knows what is best for us, and He may withhold that which we ask for in order to give us different blessings at another time. (Believe me, my husband and I struggled with this when he was laid off twice in 18 months.)
In the book Jesus the Christ, Elder James E. Talmage states that the parable tells us that, if such a wicked and earthly man as the judge would yield to justice based on the widow’s pleadings, how much more will the Lord bless the righteous who kneel before Him in constant supplication! As we express our faith by asking Him for aid and assistance, He truly hears us and, because He loves us, will give us our righteous desires.
Elder Talmage goes on to make an interesting point. He states: “The judge’s obduracy, though wholly wicked on his part, may have been ultimately advantageous to the widow. Had she easily obtained redress she might have become again unwary, and perchance a worse adversary than the first might have oppressed her.” (Talmage, Jesus the Christ,p. 436) In short, the woman was more changed and improved by the supplication than the judge was.
So it is with us. When we kneel before the Lord in constant prayer, we become more humble and more teachable. We admit that we cannot do everything, but instead need (and desire) His help and guidance. We forsake our pride. If we are truly seeking His will, kneeling in prayer will draw us closer to the Holy Ghost, and we will be more apt to receive spiritual promptings, particularly if we take the time to listen for them.
As always, the Lord knows what is best for us. He asks us to pray, not because He requires constant adoration, but because we require the spiritual growth that comes with supplication. And, of course, as a loving Father in Heaven, He wants to hear from His children.
Related Articles:
For more articles on this week’s Sunday School lesson, click on the Gospel Doctrine link at right
General Conference: “Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer”
Gospel Doctrine: “Great Is Thy Faith”