PursuingYHWH

“Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.
Matthew 15:28

This morning I was reading Matthew 15. Verses 22 – 28 really hit me hard.

A Gentile (non-Jewish) woman runs up to Jesus asking Him to heal her daughter from being possessed by an evil spirit.

She begs Jesus.

Jesus doesn’t reply, not even a word. The lover of our soul, Jesus, doesn’t respond to a mother whose heart is broken because her daughter needs His help… and He doesn’t say anything?

Is this cruelty? Why wouldn’t He respond?

The disciples are clearly irritated and ask Jesus to tell her to go away.

Then Jesus responds to the woman that He came only to help God’s people – the people of Israel.

But she persisted and kept begging.

Jesus responds, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.”

Ouch, sounds harsh.

She replies, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.”

Bam, she has no pride, no self-pity, – she just wants her daughter to be made well. That’s all she is focused on.

“Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.

Wow, talk about the perfect compliment from Jesus. “Your faith is great.”

What hit me hard about this story this morning was that this woman didn’t quit. She kept asking with all that she was – please, Lord, heal my daughter. Without thinking about what she looked like, how she sounded. Just razor focused on Jesus asking Him for His help.

Don’t quit.

Don’t quit seeking Jesus for that breakthrough in that broken relationship with your spouse, your children, your extended family, your friends.

Don’t quit asking Jesus to save your spouse, your children, your extended family, your friends, your co-workers, neighbors.

Don’t quit begging Jesus for help in a new job, career, income stream, blessing.

Don’t quit believing that Jesus will send the right person to you to be your spouse.

Don’t quit believing that Jesus loves you – just as He loved this woman.

Don’t quit trying to do better.

Keep walking by faith in trying that new business, that new side hustle, that new exercise routine, new fun adventure with your family.

Don’t quit.

Because Jesus never quit.

He went all the way to Calvary for you.

He died for you.

He rose again for you.

Jesus is for you – not against you.

Don’t quit.

Look to your left, to your right, behind you and in front of you.

Jesus is all around you.

Don’t quit.

Your brother in the trenches refusing to quit,
Dave