In some moments, we might feel like God is silent. We might feel ignored. But remember, God’s silence is not denial. God is testing our faith. If only we can persist in faith, we will see God’s work in action. All it takes is the leap of faith. When we approach God’s presence with full faith, overcoming all negative and discouraging situations, and bypassing the negative words of people, we reach out to the God who hears and helps us. In this post, let us read and meditate on how this woman of great faith cried out to Jesus and received her prayer request answered. We have 10 great lessons to learn from her “great faith”.

In the Gospel of Matthew (Matt 15: 21-28) and Gospel of Mark (Mark 7: 24-30), we see Jesus making a sudden withdrawal from Galilee to a Gentile (non-Jewish) region to the cities of Tyre and Sidon. There, a Canaanite woman meets him, begging for mercy and healing for her demon-possessed daughter. Jesus initially ignores her, but she persists. The disciples urge Jesus to send her away, and Jesus responds by saying that He is sent only to the lost sheep of Israel. Despite this, she kneels down and worships Jesus, asking for help. Jesus then metaphorically refers to her as a “little dog,” implying that blessings are for the children of Israel. However, she responds cleverly, stating that even dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the table. Impressed by her faith, Jesus exclaims, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter is healed instantly. Then Jesus returns to Galilee.

When I meditated this passage, I got few insights about this woman’s faith and how it touched Jesus’ heart, which I would like to share with you. There are only two places where Jesus mentions about great faith. One is to a Roman soldier whose son was not well, and he approached Jesus saying, Master you don’t have to come to my home. Just say the word and my son will be healed. (Luke 7:7), then Jesus was really pleased and said “I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” (Luke 7:9). Then the next time he told about great faith was to this Canaanite woman. “O woman, great is your faith!

Your faith and words filled with faith can move God’s heart.

Here Jesus goes all the way from Gennesaret (West side of Sea of Galilee) to Tyre and Sidon which is around 60 kms. Why would he go to a gentile territory? I believe it was because Jesus knew that there was a woman of great faith, and he had to honor her faith, irrespective of her gentile origin.

My friend, if you have faith in God, He will be truly pleased with you.

Bible says,

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Heb 11: 6)

Do you believe that God exists and He will reward you if you diligently seek Him?

Yes, He will!

How did she please God by her faith? Let’s take a look at the different characteristics of her faith.

1. She had a desperate need

Her daughter was demon possessed. She had a pressing concern. She would have consulted a lot of doctors, psychologists or psychiatrists, but none of them could do anything, so she figured out that her daughter was demon possessed. Only God could save her daughter.

Do you have a pressing concern? Any urgent need where you need an immediate intervention. Could be a job, a healing from sickness, depression or a financial breakthrough or a spiritual blessing. Take it to God with great faith and He will answer you. Her desperate need pushed her to Jesus.

2. She had a genuine desire

She really wanted her daughter to be made well. She is working hard day and night for her child, and to see her future. But since she is not demon possessed, there is no future. But she did not lose hope. She knew there is a God who lives, who can save her daughter. This faith made her to desire for a deliverance.

Do you wish to be delivered? Sometimes we give our hopes and think that there is no solution to the problem that we face. But if you have faith in God, you will have a desire to see a solution. Yes, your faith will take you to God and you will witness a solution.

3. She sincerely sought God

Jesus was in a house trying to be in secret, but the news went around. The moment she heard that Jesus was in town, her faith pushed to take the opportunity to meet Jesus Christ. She was a true seeker of God, else she wouldn’t take the courage to meet a Jew and ask for a healing.

If you have faith, you will genuinely seek God. When you seek, you shall meet him. I believe Jesus went all the way from Galilee to Tyre and Sidon, so that he could give this “genuine seeker” an opportunity. When you have faith, God will take extra steps to honor your faith.

4. She trusted in God

She went to meet Jesus. This simply means, she trusted that God would have mercy on her and heal her daughter. Her only trust was in God because only God is powerful enough to cast the demon out of her daughter. She also believed that even though she was from a Gentile community her God would not cast her away.

Do you really trust in God? Is God your only trust? Then you are blessed!

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. (Jeremiah 17:7)

5. She knew who Jesus was

When she met Jesus, this is what she said first

“Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” (Matt 15: 22)

She knew that Jesus Christ was the Lord and Savior! She knew that Jesus Christ was the promised Messiah (Son of David). Her understanding about God made her to take the step of faith in approaching God.

Our belief in God and the understanding about God’s nature is the foundation of our prayer and opens ways for us to receive blessings from God.

6. She asked for “mercy”

Being a gentile woman, “mercy” was all that she could ask for! She knew that she was not eligible for receiving the blessings from the God of Israel, but still she believed that God was merciful and He would show mercy and as she believed, the Lord had mercy on her.

This is the prayer that we need to pray, “Lord have mercy on me”. We need God’s mercy. If God were to deal with us according to our sins, we wouldn’t be alive today. It is only his mercy that we live today. Each and every day we need to seek His mercy.

7. She kept on begging

Firstly Jesus responded with a silence. But she kept on asking. Then his disciples asked Jesus to send her away. Jesus says,

“I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matt 15: 24)

She would have heard that, but she chose not to be discouraged, but to keep pressing hard. She overcame all barriers and reached out to Jesus.

When God remains silent, it doesn’t mean denial. He is testing our faith. If we continue to pray in faith, God will honor us.

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him. (Matthew 7:7-11)

8. She worshipped the Lord

She went behind Jesus begging, finally she went ahead of Jesus, knelt down before him and asked for help. She worshipped the Lord.

Then she came and worshiped Him (Matt 15: 25)

Even before getting answer to her prayers, she worshipped the Lord. This shows her faith in God.

If God remains silent when we pray, do we still worship Him? God is worthy of worship, even if our prayers are answered or not. She overcame all the obstacles and knelt down before Jesus! Truly a leap of faith.

9. She asked for “help”

The first prayer she prayed was “Lord, have mercy on me”. Now she kneels down and prays, “Lord, help me”

Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” (Matt 15: 25)

Yes, we need God’s help. Without Jesus we cannot do anything. (John 15:5)

When we come to the presence of God, we can expect “mercy” and “help” in time of need.

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb 4: 16)

10. She answered Jesus with faith (Intelligent response)

When she asked for help, Jesus answered

But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs. (Matt 15: 26)

In other words, Jesus was saying, this blessing of healing (good food) is for the children (Israel) and not for the puppies (Gentiles). It could have offended her, but she still believed in a generous God. Look at her answer

And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” (Matt 15: 27)

She was saying, yes the good food is for children, but the crumbs that fall down is for the dogs. I just need that crumbs for now. Please heal my daughter. A clever response. First time, she was ignored, second time, she heard Jesus saying that he came for the lost sheep of Israel, thirdly Jesus himself says that the food was for children. But because of her great faith, she overcame all of these and reached the heart of Jesus. Jesus was testing her all this time and she passed the test.

Sometimes God challenges us with situations, silence and hopeless situations, because He wants to test if our faith is real and genuine. Your faith is tested in fire

Your faith will be like gold that has been tested in a fire. And these trials will prove that your faith is worth much more than gold that can be destroyed. They will show that you will be given praise and honor and glory when Jesus Christ returns. (1 Peter 1:7 CEV)

Her words of faith activated the healing process

When she confessed her faith, the miracle was activated. Look at what Jesus said.

“O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. (Matt 15: 28)

In Mark’s gospel, it says

Then He said to her, “For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter. (Mark 7: 29)

Jesus honored her words of faith and said, because of what you said, the demon has gone out. How powerful are the words of faith.

Her desire + great faith + words of faith = Miracle.

This is what we also need to do. We should never be discouraged, or feel hopeless about our situations. We should always believe in God, continue to pray and wait for God’s time. Meanwhile, do not speak negative words or words of hopelessness. Speak words of faith and trust God, and He will honor your faith.