DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- WHEN GOD IS SILENT

DAD'S RAMBLINGS  – WHEN GOD IS SILENT

"Then Jesus answered and said to her, 'O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire'  And her daughter was healed from that very hour."  (Matthew 15:28)

I am intrigued by this episode in the ministry of the Lord Jesus.  A Canaanite woman – who was not of the house of Israel – came to Jesus seeking deliverance of her daughter from demon possession.  

Jesus did not answer her and His disciples wanted Jesus to send her away.  But she persevered and kept crying out to Jesus, "Lord help me!"  Again Jesus seemed to rebuff her because she was not a Jew.  But that did not stop her appeal to Jesus for help.  

Finally, Jesus commended her faith and healed the daughter.  She would not have received her answer if she had given up easily.

How many times have I sought the Lord for a particular need, and He seemed to be silent.  He did not answer.  It would be easy to give up and quit asking.  So what is the reason for this seeming disregard for my prayers?

It seems there might be two things to consider.  First, there may have been a testing of the woman's faith.  Was she really serious about her request?  Another possible reason is that it was a witness of her faith to others around her.  

When I see people who are persistent in their faith, it encourages me to be persistent in my own faith.  Jesus said to ask and keep on asking (Luke 11:9).  He said men ought always to pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1)  It is not always easy to keep praying when it seems that God does not answer my prayers, but if I am persistent, perhaps He will say, "Great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire."  May God be glorified in all  things.  

Love, Dad