The moment to stop pleading is the moment when God speaks to assure you that his heart is now hardened and his hand, once opened to supply your needs, is now closed to cut them off. Until that day—a day that will never come—continue to pray, trusting that God continues to listen and to provide.

Sir Walter Raleigh filled many roles and wore many hats over the course of his life, among them politician, soldier, and writer. But he is best known to history as an explorer. In 1584, Queen Elizabeth granted him a charter to explore, colonize, and rule any “remote, heathen and barbarous lands, countries and territories, not actually possessed of any Christian Prince or inhabited by Christian People.” In return, he was expected to extend the reach and riches of the crown. The first region he claimed, he named “Virginia” in honor of Elizabeth, the virgin queen.

Over the course of his first illustrious and then ignominious career, he repeatedly came before the queen to ask for funds, favors, appointments, and opportunities, for all of this had to flow through the hands of the monarch. It all required her assent and her largesse. Many observed that the more she gave, the more he asked, and the greater her generosity, the greater his importunity.

It seemed inevitable that over time she would become weary of his constant requests and escalating entreaties. Sure enough, one day in exasperation she asked when he would finally stop being a beggar. His reply was simple: “When you stop giving.” Or more literally, “When, madam, you cease to be a benefactress.”(1)

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