Oceans in the Desert

by Kathi Pelton

The other day we were blessed by having a team from YWAM (Youth With a Mission) come to our home to pray and prophesy over us as we face many transitions. During this precious time we put our daughter’s dog out on our deck. She was not a happy dog to be kept away from all of the excitement so she began scratching at our glass door. She scratched and scratched and scratched.

Her scratching began to become like the sound of fingernails going down a chalkboard. She was persistently pleading with her paws,

“Open the door, open the door, OPEN THE DOOR!”

I began to feel myself getting annoyed with her. I was about to get up to open the door to answer her persistent request when I suddenly heard the Holy Spirit speak to me,

“This puppy is like the story of the persistent widow who came before the unjust judge. Her persistence finally wore Him down and he granted her request. Persistent prayer will open the door for you.”

The story of the persistent widow goes like this,

Luke 18:1-8

Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit. He said, “There was once a judge in some city who never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people. A widow in that city kept after him: ‘My rights are being violated. Protect me!’

“He never gave her the time of day. But after this went on and on he said to himself, ‘I care nothing what God thinks, even less what people think. But because this widow won’t quit badgering me, I’d better do something and see that she gets justice—otherwise I’m going to end up beaten black-and-blue by her pounding.’”

Then the Master said, “Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying? So what makes you think God won’t step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won’t he stick up for them? I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?”

God is just, He is full of love and He WILL “stick up for you” against injustices. Though your trials may seem to drag on, your faith and persistent prayers are creating an atmosphere that bruises the enemy. Your prayers are not being ignored but they are doing a deep work in your life and character while shifting the atmosphere around your life as well.

I began to see our glass door, that was being scratched upon, as the enemy’s head. Our dog would not be dissuaded by the door that blocked her from her desire. Like the persistent widow, whose requests were like bruises upon this judge, so are our continual prayers bruising the enemy.

I hear the Spirit saying,

“The door will be opened for you!”

God is not ignoring you or deaf to your prayers but knows the perfect time to open the door for you. Though it feels like you’ve been left out in the cold (without your desired answer), suddenly and at the appointed time the door will open and you will enter with great joy.

Do not stop praying. Do not stop knocking at the door before you and do not believe the lie that God is ignoring your request. You are scratching, bruising and tearing down the lie that “God is not faithful” and defeating the persistent enemy that taunts His sons and daughters with accusations of being orphans. Abandonment is not possible for the sons and daughters of God. He will never leave nor forsake you! You will see the faithfulness of God come to your aid.

I will finish with the truth and encouragement from Romans 5:1-5,

“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”

You are being changed through your persistence and patience. You will never be the same and when the door opens you will walk through it as a different person…as the person He created you to be.

He dearly loves us!

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