“Maxi, would you like to lead us in the closing prayer?” asked Mother as she closed the family Bible. They were just finishing evening worship. However, Mother noticed discomfort on her son’s face. He was silent for a while.
“Mother, is it possible for me not to pray this time?” he answered as politely as he could. This surprised Mother greatly. Maxi loved to pray, and for the past months, he had been praying especially for an acoustic guitar. He really wanted to play in the church band. Mother accepted his request this time. She usually tried her best to encourage her children to pray, but she could see something was really bothering Maxi, so she asked Annie to pray.
The children went to get ready for bed. Mother took this time to pray to God, asking for wisdom that she may counsel her son appropriately, on whatever was the issue. She then went upstairs and before she entered the room, she stood at the door, hoping to hear Maxi praying as usual, but this time he was silent. She opened the halfway-closed door, and saw Maxi just lying in bed, looking at the picture of the guitar he wanted so badly. Mother’s heart broke. She had been saving up for months hoping soon to have enough money to buy Maxi his guitar and have enough to pay for his guitar lessons; yet, she never seemed to get the amount that was necessary. She, too, had been praying for this.
“Son, tell me now, what is the matter? I have noticed some discomfort in your face today when I asked you to pray; come now, sit up and speak to me.” Mother sat on Maxi’s bed. Maxi sat up, and sadly sighed.
“I’m tired of praying about the guitar, Mother. I think God may be mad at me; He’s not listening to me. I’ve asked Him for months and still no answer. I think maybe I should just leave God alone. Maybe He doesn’t want to respond. Why should I continue praying and praying if He is not willing to answer?”
Mother was silent. She too had felt at times like God didn’t hear her prayers, but she knew better. She then remembered a parable of Jesus that had allowed her to not give up in times like these. She took Maxi’s Bible from the lamp table beside his bed, opened it up to Luke 11:5–8, and read:
“And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.”
“Son, what we can understand from this parable is that if we persist, if we do not give up, we will receive what we are asking for. God sometimes puts us through test of faith, and perhaps this is yours. Do not hold back from praying and asking God; you must learn to persist. God hears you, and He will answer, just continue being like this importune man.”
“Okay Mother, I certainly don’t want to give up, and I realize I need more faith. I will continue praying for my guitar. As a matter a fact, I will pray right now.” Mother smiled. She kissed him good night, and as she slightly closed the door, she could hear Maxi praying already. A week later, a friend from church bought a guitar as a gift for Maxi. It was perfect! Better than the one in the picture. Maxi excitedly thanked God for answering his prayer, finally.