Don’t quit

 


The Power of Persistence: What "Kakós" Teaches Us About Quitting and Faith

In the hustle of life, it’s easy to feel like giving up when answers don’t come quickly. Yet, Jesus’ Parable of the Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-8) offers a timeless lesson: persistence in faith is the antidote to quitting. At the heart of this parable lies a Greek word, ἐγκακεῖν (enkakein), and its cousin κακός (kakós, Strong’s G2556), which together reveal why quitting isn’t just stopping—it’s a "bad" state that undermines trust in God.

The Parable: A Call to Never Give Up

In Luke 18:1, Jesus shares the parable “to show them that they should always pray and not give up” (NIV). The Greek phrase here is μὴ ἐγκακεῖν, where ἐγκακεῖν (Strong’s G1573) means “to lose heart,” “grow weary,” or “become discouraged.” The story follows a widow who relentlessly seeks justice from an unjust judge. Despite his indifference, her persistence wins out—he grants her request, not out of kindness, but because she won’t quit.

Jesus’ point? If even a callous judge responds to persistence, how much more will a loving God answer those who pray faithfully without losing heart? The widow becomes a model of steadfast faith, showing us what it means to keep going when the odds seem stacked against us.

Unpacking Kakós and Enkakein

The word ἐγκακεῖν is rooted in κακός (kakós), a Greek adjective meaning “bad,” “evil,” or “worthless” (Strong’s G2556). In some contexts, κακός describes a cowardly soldier who retreats in battle—a quitter who fails under pressure. This imagery, noted in Spiros Zodhiates’ Complete Word Study Dictionary, casts quitting as more than just stopping; it’s a moral or character failure, a “bad” state that betrays duty or trust.

ἐγκακεῖν, built from ἐν- (“in”) and a form related to κακός, carries this idea into the spiritual realm. To “lose heart” is to fall into a discouraged, “bad” state of mind, like a soldier abandoning their post. In the parable, Jesus warns against this, urging believers to avoid the “badness” of giving up on prayer. The widow, by contrast, embodies the opposite: resilience, courage, and unwavering faith.

Quitting as “Bad” in Faith

The connection between κακός and ἐγκακεῖν reveals a profound truth: quitting in faith is “bad” because it reflects a lack of trust in God’s timing and goodness. Just as a κακός soldier’s retreat endangers their comrades, losing heart in prayer abandons the hope that God will act. The widow’s persistence shows that steadfastness isn’t just about effort—it’s about trusting God enough to keep asking, seeking, and knocking (Matthew 7:7).

This perspective resonates throughout the New Testament. Hebrews 12:1-2 calls us to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us,” fixing our eyes on Jesus. Quitting, whether in prayer or purpose, is “bad” because it pulls us away from the faithfulness God desires.

The Widow’s Lesson for Today

The Persistent Widow challenges us to examine our own hearts. When prayers go unanswered or trials drag on, do we lean toward ἐγκακεῖν, letting discouragement take root? Or do we follow the widow’s example, pressing forward with bold faith? Her story reminds us that persistence isn’t just about getting what we want—it’s about trusting who God is.

In a world that often celebrates quick fixes, the parable calls us to a deeper kind of strength. Like a soldier standing firm in battle, we’re called to hold our ground in prayer, refusing to let weariness make us “bad” or cowardly in faith. The widow’s victory came not because she was powerful, but because she didn’t quit. That’s the kind of faith God honors.

Keep Going—Don’t Quit!

The interplay of κακός and ἐγκακεῖν in the Parable of the Persistent Widow offers a powerful reminder: quitting is a “bad” response to life’s challenges, but persistence is the path of faith. Whether you’re praying for a breakthrough, seeking justice, or navigating hardship, let the widow inspire you. Don’t lose heart. Keep praying, keep trusting, keep pushing forward. God sees your persistence, and He is faithful.

Reflection Question: What’s one area where you’re tempted to “lose heart”? How can the widow’s example encourage you to persist in faith today?

Tags: Faith, Persistence, Prayer, Bible Study, Christian Living

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Earnest Money

Image
  The Holy Spirit: Our Down Payment on Glory Have you ever made a down payment on something big—like a house or a car? That initial deposit is a promise, a guarantee that the full amount is coming. In the Bible, God uses this same idea to describe something far greater: our salvation. The Greek word ἀρραβών (arrabōn), found in 2 Corinthians 1:22, 5:5, and Ephesians 1:14, paints the Holy Spirit as a "pledge" or "deposit" guaranteeing the full inheritance of eternal life. But what does this mean for us today, and how does it connect to the glory awaiting us? The Holy Spirit as the Earnest Payment When we come to faith in Christ, God doesn’t leave us empty-handed. He gives us His Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, as a divine down payment. This isn’t just a symbol—it’s God Himself dwelling in us, sealing us for salvation (Eph. 1:13–14). The Spirit empowers us, transforms us to be more like Jesus (2 Cor. 3:18), and produces fruit like love, joy, and peace (Ga...
Read more

The body soul and spirit imagery of Acts 28:2–5

Image
  The Vivid Victory Over Evil in Acts 28:2–5: A Tapestry of Rain, Cold, Fire, and Viper In Acts 28:2–5, a seemingly straightforward account of survival after Paul’s shipwreck on Malta unfolds into a vivid spiritual narrative, painted with striking imagery by the Holy Spirit. The text reads: “And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, ‘No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.’ But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm” (NKJV). Beneath this account lies a profound tableau: rain “standing upon” the scene, cold chilling the soul, fire kindling life, and a viper—the embod...
Read more

Christ is the end of the law for righteousness

Image
  The Total Replacement in Christ: Unveiling the New Covenant in Hebrews The Book of Hebrews presents a profound theological shift, declaring Jesus Christ as the fulfillment and replacement of the old covenant, encompassing both its moral and sacrificial dimensions. This “total replacement” introduces a new law, a new priest, a new mediator, and a new covenant, as articulated in Hebrews 7–10. Yet, this transformative truth is often overlooked, even by theological giants like Martin Luther and John Calvin, whose distinctions between the moral and ceremonial Law may have obscured the full scope of Hebrews’ message. For many Christians, including myself, grasping this total replacement took time, as the new law’s spiritual nature is subtle and easy to miss. This article explores Hebrews’ vision of Christ’s complete replacement of the old covenant, why it’s often misunderstood, and its implications for reading both the Old and New Testaments today. Hebrews’ Radical Claim: A Total Repla...
Read more