The Nature of Prayer

The parable of the persistent widow to the unrighteous judge teaches us that we are to pray and not faint. God is not at all like the judge. he does not need to be cajoled into answering our prayer. But immediately after telling this parable, Jesus tells another parable that teaches the nature of prayer. Jesus answers a natural question: "If God is so willing to hear my prayer and answer, why does it ever seem otherwise? Why doesn't He respond at times?..."