What is God's promise if you persist in prayer? Months have passed, and there is still no answer to your prayer. Should you keep asking God, or are you supposed to assume He heard you the first time and will answer? One of your friends said it shows trust if you quit bugging God. Another has told you to persist. How are you to know which is right? It is all very confusing. Does the Bible give any guidance or promises about persisting in prayer? The story of Hannah can be found in the Book of 1 Samuel in the Old Testament. Hannah wanted a child and continued to bring her request before God. Hannah's persistence was rewarded with a son, Samuel. The New Testament continues to encourage you to persist in prayer. Jesus told the story of a woman and a judge. The woman kept pleading with the judge to help her, but he refused to do anything. Still, the woman kept asking. Finally he helped her so she would leave him alone. Jesus continued, "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" (Luke 18:6-8, The Message) Jesus teaches that you are to persist in prayer. Trust that He has heard your requests and is working to bring it about. Believe that He is working behind the scenes, and thank Him for it. Thank Him for what He is doing at the moment you pray and for how He will answer in the future. Persistence confirms to God how much value you place on the request. When you go to Him daily, He knows that your request is important to you. Worth thinking about:

• Jesus made a point of teaching that persistence in prayer would eventually result in receiving the answer from God. God keeps His promises. Persistence pays off.
• Persistent prayer reveals to God your level of trust in Him. Your prayer shows that you are confident of His promised answer.
• Scripture teaches that God desires to give good things to His children. Persistent prayer indicates to God that you recognize Him as your heavenly Father and that you believe in His goodness.

from: Answers to 100 questions about God's promises for you

Side note: God has answered my persistent prayers to Him. The answers sometimes are there the next day. Most of my prayers especially about and for my loved ones, come in installments and some answers would be years to complete. However, God will answer no matter what; and I see His responses as the years go by. I've learned that as I wait for the answers, He also has given me patience, understanding, discernment and wisdom. And in waiting, I've learned to obey His instructions and teachings. At the same time, as I persist in praying to Him, He has already blessed me and sends favors, protection, provisions and healing as I pray for others. In my years of praying to Him, I came to know Him, understand His Plan and His will for my life. My relationship with God has grown leaps and bounds and even if He doesn't answer my prayers, my love has grown so much for God, that the most important thing in praying to Him is feeling His presence. He is there in my happiest moments and my saddest ones. I've learned that in waiting for God to answer, misery has lost my company.