What a Stubborn Donkey Taught Me About Persistence in Prayer
Have you ever prayed for something over and over, only to wonder if God was listening? Maybe you’ve been asking Him for direction, praying for someone you love, or waiting for an answer that doesn’t seem to be coming.
It’s easy to grow discouraged when our prayers aren’t answered as quickly as we’d like. Sometimes we even begin to wonder whether we should keep asking. An unexpected encounter with a stubborn donkey in Colorado reminded me why persistence matters, especially when it comes to prayer.
An Unexpected Visitor in Lake George
My wife and I were driving through Lake George, Colorado, an area known for its wild donkeys. Local stories suggest these animals descended from donkeys released by miners after the gold rush. Suddenly, my wife spotted something. “Donkeys,” she said. “Must be two dozen.” Sure enough, the road was covered with them. White donkeys, black donkeys, gray ones, tan ones, and even a few spotted animals. It looked like an entire gathering of Eeyores had decided to block traffic.
Naturally, I stopped the car. I rolled down my window to get a better look, and one particularly friendly jack decided to introduce himself.
Without hesitation, he walked right up and stuck his head through my window. I gently pushed his nose away. He pushed forward again. I tried moving his muzzle a second time, but this donkey wasn’t taking no for an answer. He continued thrusting his head farther into the car, flapping his lips near my face as though he had something important to say.
Finally, I had an idea. “You want a scratch?” I reached out and rubbed his ears. That was apparently exactly what he’d been waiting for. The donkey leaned his head against my chest, completely content. Mud flaked from his coat onto my shirt, but I couldn’t have cared less. After all, how often do you get to hold a wild donkey in your arms? I was so delighted that I kissed him right on the nose. I’ll call you Nicholas.
For a few moments, Nick enjoyed the attention. Or perhaps he was simply appreciating the cool air coming from the dashboard vent. Either way, he had accomplished his mission. After a gentle snort, he wandered off as though nothing unusual had happened. Nicholas had wanted something, and he wasn’t about to give up until he got it. As we drove away, I couldn’t help thinking about what that stubborn donkey had just taught me.
What Does the Bible Say About Persistence in Prayer?
In Luke 11:9–10, Jesus tells us, “And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” (ESV)
Jesus encourages us to keep coming to God with our needs.
Sometimes, though, we approach prayer differently. We ask once or twice, and when nothing seems to happen, we begin to lose hope. Maybe we assume the answer is no. Perhaps we decide the request isn’t important enough to keep bringing before God. Or we become so discouraged by the waiting that we stop praying about it altogether. But Jesus doesn’t tell us to give up when an answer doesn’t come immediately. He invites us to keep asking, seeking, and knocking.
That doesn’t mean persistence guarantees we’ll receive exactly what we want. Prayer isn’t a way to wear God down until He agrees with our plans. Instead, it’s an invitation to continue trusting Him, even when His timing looks different from ours.
The Widow Who Wouldn’t Give Up
Jesus gives us another example of persistence in Luke 18:1–8. He tells the story of a widow who repeatedly approached a judge, asking him to grant her justice.
The judge wasn’t particularly interested in helping her. In fact, Jesus describes him as someone who neither feared God nor respected people. Yet the widow kept coming. She didn’t let his lack of interest stop her from making her request. Eventually, the judge granted her justice because of her persistence.
Jesus used this story to encourage His followers to continue praying and not lose heart. There’s an important difference between that unjust judge and our heavenly Father. God isn’t reluctant to listen to us. We don’t have to convince Him to care. He already does. Our persistence isn’t about changing God’s character or forcing His hand. It’s about remaining connected to the One who knows what we need. And sometimes, the waiting itself becomes part of what He’s teaching us.
When God’s Answer Takes Longer Than Expected
I think one of the hardest parts of prayer is accepting that God’s timing doesn’t always match our expectations. We want answers. Preferably clear ones. And, if we’re being truthful, we’d appreciate receiving them sooner rather than later.
But faith doesn’t always grow through immediate answers. Sometimes it develops through the process of returning to God, bringing Him the same concerns, and learning to trust His wisdom.
A delayed answer doesn’t necessarily mean an ignored prayer. God sees the entire picture, including the things we can’t understand from where we’re standing. There may be circumstances we don’t know about, lessons we’re still learning, or a different answer than the one we’ve imagined.
Persistence gives us an opportunity to keep seeking Him through it all. The goal isn’t simply to get what we’re asking for. It’s also to grow closer to the One we’re asking.
Keep Asking, Keep Seeking, Keep Trusting
I doubt Nicholas knew he was teaching me anything that day. He was just a donkey looking for a little attention. But his determination left an impression. He didn’t turn away after I pushed his nose out of the window. He continued trying until I finally understood what he wanted.
Of course, God doesn’t need us to explain our needs as though He hasn’t noticed them. He already knows our hearts. Still, He welcomes us into conversation with Him. Through prayer, we’re invited to bring our worries, hopes, questions, and desires before our heavenly Father. And when the answers don’t come right away, we can keep returning to Him. Not because He’s forgotten us. Not because we need to convince Him to listen. But because He loves us, hears our prayers, and can be trusted with the outcome.
The next time you’re tempted to give up praying about something, remember a stubborn donkey named Nicholas. Keep asking. Keep seeking. And most importantly, keep trusting the One who hears you.
Faith Step: Is there something you’ve stopped praying about because the answer hasn’t come? Take a few minutes today to bring that request before God again. Ask Him to help you trust His timing, even if the answer looks different from what you expected.
Prayer: Lord, I know You never ignore me. Help me remember that instead, You prompt me to spend more time with You in prayer when you delay. Your answers. Teach me to trust. Your timing. Amen.
If you missed last week’s blog post, you can check it out here.
A New Collection of Animal-Inspired Devotions Is Coming
I’ve discovered that God can use some pretty unexpected encounters to remind us of biblical truths. Sometimes those lessons come through Scripture, conversations, or everyday experiences. Other times, they show up in the form of a stubborn donkey sticking his head through my car window!
Stories like these are inspiring my upcoming book, When Animals Preach, scheduled for release in late 2027.
This new collection will feature my own animal-inspired devotionals, exploring how God’s creation can point us toward important lessons about faith and Christian living.
While When Animals Preach is a separate project, I’ve also had the privilege of contributing several devotionals to Guideposts’ All God’s Creatures Daily Devotions 2027.
This collaborative book features reflections from multiple writers, each sharing lessons inspired by the animals God created.
If you enjoy discovering spiritual encouragement through stories about God’s creatures, pick up your copy of All God’s Creatures Daily Devotions 2027 and look for my contributions throughout the book!
👉 Get Your Copy of All God’s Creatures Daily Devotions 2027
