“Though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs”

Luke 11:8.

Though friendship may not get you what you ask for, persistence could.
By persisting, you show that you really need what you’re asking for. It is important to you. You treasure it enough to keep coming back, though you may be denied many times. You can’t do without it. Your life hangs on it, and you will not go without it. That’s what your persistent prayer tells God. It tells Him that you can’t do without Him.

When the joint forces of Amon, Moab, and Mt. Seir came against Judah, King Jehoshaphat prayed that way to God. He bared his heart out before the Lord of the hosts of heaven in a series of rhetorical questions that affirmed His Lordship and greatness over all things. “O Lord, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations?” (6). He reminded God of the inheritance He had given to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and what He had restrained them from doing. “Did You not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?” (7). They had built a sanctuary for God’s name, and He had promised to hear their cry when they faced any difficulty (8-9).  

^“Now behold,” Jehoshaphat continued, “the sons of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom You did not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt …see how they are rewarding us by coming to drive us out from Your possession which You have given us as an inheritance.” Then he nailed it: “O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (12). Why wouldn’t God answer such a prayer of dire need and total dependence?

Now it is your turn. You don’t know what to do or where to turn in your current predicament. But your eyes are on Him. Go ahead and bear your heart out before the One Mighty God, who alone can deliver you. And stay at it until He comes through for you. He will meet you at your point of need.

Jesus tells the story of the man who went to his sleeping friend at midnight on behalf of his visitor. The man’s sleeping friend met his request, not because of his friendship, but because of his boldness and persistence (Lk. 11:5-8). With the same persistent attitude, the Syrophoenician woman received healing for her daughter after resisting every discouragement (Matt. 15:21-28). The persistent widow unyieldingly press her case before the unjust judge until he decided to do the right thing.  ^“And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily,” Jesus said (18:7-8). 

So, don’t give up. Keep on trusting and praying until His favor embrace you (Lk. 11:9-10).