Over the years, I’ve had countless people approach me and say, “Luis—I just don’t know what to do. I’ve been praying for so-and-so for YEARS, and they still don’t know Jesus!” When I hear these complaints, I first empathize with the feeling. I get it. It can be discouraging to want someone to know the Good News, only to have them resist it or reject it. I’ve been there. But let me encourage you to be patient and be persistent in prayer. Do not give up!
When my son, Andrew, was in his early adult years, he had walked away from the church. For years, my wife, Pat and I prayed for him. We talked to him about Jesus whenever we could without being obnoxious. Years went by. It was tempting to give up, or to stop trying -- but we persisted. And guess what? Andrew came around. He heard the Good News, responded, and the Lord changed his entire life. And Andrew isn’t the only one. I have seen God change hearts in hundreds of sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers.
If you know someone who doesn’t know Jesus, or who has walked away from the church, pray for them. Talk to them about Jesus. And do not give up.The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing” and in 1 Corinthians 15:59 it urges us to be “steadfast” because our labor is not in vain.
This is Luis Palau.