“And will not [our just] God defend and avenge His elect [His chosen ones] who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay [in providing justice] on their behalf? I tell you that He will defend and avenge them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find [this kind of persistent] faith on the earth?” – Luke 18:7-8 Amplified Bible.
It was a life-changing program—a beacon of hope for parents, especially single parents who made up more than 60 percent of the parents bringing their children to our after-school program in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, many working two jobs just to survive. As the Program Administrator of The Salvation Army West Philadelphia After School Program, I was driven by empathy—my own mother raised me as a single parent after my father’s passing when I was six.
We adopted a nearby charter school, offering free after-school educational and transformational programs where young adults were taught life skills apart from homework, and even launched a pickup service to walk them safely from school to our facility. But one major challenge remained—we lacked enough staff to meet the growing needs of these families.
When One Volunteer Sparked a Miracle
Hope arrived through a student named Zach from one of the neighborhood universities who volunteered in our program. Yet one person wasn’t enough. Seeing the need, Zach connected me to his university’s Civic Engagement Department, which could send more student volunteers.
I immediately sent an email, but weeks passed with no response. Inspired by the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8, I decided to keep emailing daily, refusing to give up. Then one day, the breakthrough came. The department head replied, visited our center, and approved 8–10 volunteers daily, including Saturdays! Soon our impact multiplied, and in 2018, I was honored as Employee of the Year for The Salvation Army Greater Philadelphia Area—all for the glory of God and because of the audacity of resilient faith.
Referring to the widow`s faith in Luke 18:1-8, the Lord Jesus said, “…However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find [this kind of persistent] faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8 Amplified Bible). God is always on the lookout for this kind of persistent (resilient) faith exercised by this widow. The Lord Jesus in Luke 11:1-10, while teaching His disciples how to pray, shared a notable parable about the audacity of resilient faith, a faith that is persistent and shameless.
“Then He said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves [of bread]; for a friend of mine who is on a journey has just come to visit me, and I have nothing to serve him’; and from inside he answers, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything just because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence and boldness, he will get up and give him whatever he needs. “So, I say to you, ask and keep on asking, and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking, and you will find; knock and keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking [persistently], receives; and he who keeps on seeking [persistently], finds; and to him who keeps on knocking [persistently], the door will be opened.” (Luke 11:5-10 New International Version).
Resilient faith is not about changing God’s mind—it’s about aligning our hearts with His will. It is persistence born of trust, boldness rooted in dependence, and a confidence that God rewards perseverance. (see 1 Kings 18:41-46; James 5:16-18 & Luke 11:8). So, let me ask you: Which area of your life have you stopped believing God for—and need to rekindle resilient faith? [To be continued next week].
