She faced an awkward moment when Jesus gave no reply to her request.
The disciples had no compassion and urged Jesus to send her away. Jesus had just arrived in the area where she was from and intended on speaking to his disciples and the Israelites first.
Yet, word spread and she came, because she heard Jesus was there and that he had what she did not; the power to heal her daughter.
When Jesus did respond to her, he did not say what she wanted to hear. Her response was to worship Him and then ask for his help again.
Jesus responded by saying, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs,” he said. [Note: If you read the commentaries on this scripture, Jesus is not talking down to women. Gentiles were referred to as “dogs” (pets) by the Jews as they were not religious.] “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “but even dogs are permitted to eat crumbs that fall beneath their master’s table.”
“Woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed” (Matthew 15:26-28).
When you and I make a request and we are met with awkward silence. When others who follow Jesus are not impressed or have no compassion for us. What will our response be?
“Courage is not the lack of fear. It is acting in spite of it.” – Mark Twain When you are tempted to say no, say, “yes” to Jesus and act on it.
Will we worship Jesus anyway or turn away agitated. Will we tenaciously ask again? Will we say, “yes” to Jesus even in the awkward, uncomfortable situations of life?
Jesus honors the faith of those who know they need him. He may test our faith. He may not always make it easy for us. That is ok because he knows our hearts and he knows when someone is standing before Him that is determined to receive what He has.
I am encouraged by this woman’s story of worship and tenacity to act on behalf of her daughter. When others are not supporting you, when they may not understand what you are doing, even when Jesus himself is silent – keep saying, “yes,” to Him.
People often make the mistake of saying yes to the free gift of salvation and stopping there.
Don’t stop.
Salvation is beautiful, but that is only the beginning of the adventure!
God has so much more for you and me in this life than being assured of our eternal home. There is a freedom that comes from saying, “yes,” to God over and over again and watching Him work in our lives in ways we never expected.
It will often require more than you have to give. You may feel awkward and uncomfortable. That is the beautiful part, Jesus will equip you along the way. Lean into Him with all of your weaknesses, in that awkward silence, when others do not have your back – God can work with that.
The difference between people who make an impact in this world and those who don’t are the people who keep saying “yes” to God.
The road may get narrow, it may get hard, it may get risky, it may not feel comfortable, it may look like you are walking on a tight rope and maybe you are.
Keep saying yes anyway. God is your safety net if you fall.
There are rewards and an uncanny strength that will be built within you, as you endure, grow, stretch, and become a woman or man of God, depending on your creator for all things.
Then you will experience for yourself the depths God will go to show himself faithful in your life, even when life is hard and it feels like the worst is happening.
As long as God keeps meeting you everywhere he is asking you to show up, it will ALWAYS be worth it in the end.
It’s a vulnerable and beautiful place to be as God molds and shapes us.
Share what you can with others and refuse the shame the enemy try’s to place on you in the areas of your life that are not all put together perfectly.
Know this for sure: your story is not just your story. There are others who need your unfinished, messy story of faith to have the courage to take the next step of faith in their own story.
Be the living story others tell to have the courage to live their story. You may not even know that is what you are doing, just keep saying yes.
“Sometimes it is years after a book is published that I discover what some of it meant.” – Madeleine L’ Engle from her book, Walking On Water (If you enjoy writing and reading about writing-this is a great book!)
We may not know the full impact of allowing God to mold and shape us in front of others until years later or maybe we will not fully know until we are in the presence of our creator outside the constraints of time.
God has got you! “If God is for us, who can be against us” (Romans 8:31)?
You can walk in uncertain places when you serve a God who certainly has you in the palm of his hands.
Keep saying yes! Share your story as you live it. Encourage others to live their story too.
In It With You and Cheering You On!
Joelle Povolni
If you are struggling with saying, “yes,” to God and keeping the faith in the middle of what does not make sense, check this previous post out, Keep Showing Up.
P.S. There may be an affiliate link in this post which cost you nothing extra, but helps to support the Faith Caffeine Blog.
