Patti Burris

Matthew 15:21-28

²¹ Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. ²² A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” ²³ Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” ²⁴ He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” ²⁵ The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. ²⁶ He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” ²⁷ “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” ²⁸ Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

As a mom, I have cried out in desperation on behalf of my kids. I am pretty sure I am not the only mom who has. I’m pretty sure that I am not the only mom who can feel this woman’s heartache as she calls out to Jesus on behalf of her daughter. She knows that Jesus is the only one that can help her. She doesn’t care that people may whisper about her or laugh at her. She only cares that her daughter be made whole.

I wrote the above section before the elementary school shooting yesterday in Uvalde, Texas. 19 children and 2 teachers were killed. I weep with these mothers. These mothers who sent their children off to school trusting that they would return home at the end of the day. I have 2 daughters who are teachers in elementary and high school. I have grandchildren who attend public schools. Are they safe? Is our school corporation doing enough to protect our teachers and children? All we can do is pray. As the evil one works in the hearts of those who will listen, those of us who love and trust in Jesus are called to pray. We MUST pray! We MUST pray for our nations, our governments, our neighborhoods, our schools, and our churches. We MUST pray for our children!

We can learn from the Canaanite woman in how she approached Jesus. We need to follow her example as we approach God in prayer.

1. She focused on Jesus– She knew exactly who she needed help from and she made a beeline to Him…Jesus. Romans 8:34 tells us that Jesus intercedes for us. We need to focus on Jesus! We need to make sure that we are praying to the only one who can answer those prayers and perform a needed miracle. Are the prayers of my heart focused only on Jesus, knowing that He is the only one that can perform the miracle or am I depending on the doctors, therapists, etc. to give me what I want? Are you focused on Jesus?
2. She was persistent– I’m sure that she could hear the disciples telling Jesus to send her away. She didn’t allow that to affect her. When Jesus did not immediately answer her, she did not give up in discouragement. Jesus finally answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” She stood her ground. I believe that she would have begged and pleaded with Him as long as she needed to. She was not going to give up! There are times when I feel like I give up too easily. Maybe I need to dig my heels in when I think something is worth the effort. Do I quit praying just before the miracle? Do you?
3. She was humble– She knew that she was a lowly Canaanite woman. In the eyes of society at that time, she had absolutely no business approaching Jesus. In her desperation for her daughter to be healed, she broke with custom and humbly threw herself at the feet of Jesus. She knelt before Him! He was sent to the Israelites, the holy children of God. She argued her point, pleading from her spot at His feet. Am I humble? Do I realize that I do not deserve God’s mercy and grace? Do I realize that I don’t deserve God’s miracles or answered prayers? I realize that sometimes. Other times I can be a bratty, petulant child demanding my way because it’s my right. I, honestly, don’t have a right to any of God’s goodness. Are you praying from a place of humility or are you demanding a miracle?

Jesus saw her heart. He saw her faith and her daughter was healed at that moment. This woman had the right attitude. She approached Jesus from pure motives and she was rewarded for that.

Challenge:

If it seems like God is silent and you have been praying for a miracle for some time now, I challenge you to ask yourself:

Am I focused on Jesus or am I putting my hope in the doctors, mechanics, etc. to perform the miracle?

Am I persistent in prayer or am I giving up before the miracle happens?

Am I approaching Jesus with a humble heart or am I demanding that Jesus act on my behalf?

Learn from the Canaanite woman and approach Jesus with a pure heart and pure motives and I promise you that He will answer your prayer and perform a miracle just as He did for her.