Waiting in God’s presence can be a time of spiritual growth and character development, as we learn to rely on Him and trust in His promises.
Like the Canaanite woman who came to Jesus, demanding, “Have mercy on me, oh, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely oppressed by a demon” (Matthew 15:22 ESV). We, too, wait until we are at the bottom of the pit, and march in with a commanding presence, expecting God to comply. We offer last resort pleading, hoping for a chance that some good would come from it.
If we continue this mentality toward God, we could not be further from the truth in our relationship with Him. God is not a convenience, nor can He be inserted into our lives when we’re in need or under distress.
Who is Jesus?
He is our God. Our Lord. Our Savior. He is the center of our lives. He doesn’t live on the outskirts, but in the very hearts He graciously examines and purifies.
This Canaanite woman waits for Jesus to respond. He doesn’t grant her request, but He doesn’t reject it either. He is quiet
Spiritual Growth
While she waits for His response, she is changed. The silence brought a cleansing to her self-seeking demeanor, and she drew closer to Jesus. Her plea becomes simple, “Master, help me.”
Today, we are inundated with quick responses and instant gratification. When we’re asked to wait, we jump to the conclusion that we are on our own and must do it ourselves. When, in fact, this is quite the opposite.
Character Development/Transformation
God’s silence creates an atmosphere in which to change our prayers, our positions, and to revise our petitions. He gives us a chance to examine our hearts, and, hopefully, what comes out is something more simplistic: “Jesus, help me.”
Finally, Jesus responds to her, “It’s not right to take bread out of children’s mouths and throw it to dogs.” Did He rebuke her? Did Jesus actually call her a dog? If you are shocked by His response, it’s because you don’t know Him very well.
When God is silent, He’s testing your faith. He’s examining your heart. For in the silence, He’s still listening and, in the rebuke, He’s still loving.
Trust in His Promises
This woman could have become angry and stormed off. She could have been consumed with fear, anxiety, and depression and walked away defeated. But, how she responds shifts her circumstance, changing the outcome of her and her daughter’s life trajectory. She understands she’s not worthy of God’s love, and so she responds with, “But even the begging dogs get the Master’s table scraps.”
Delighted, Jesus responded, “Oh, woman! Your faith is something else. What you want is what you get.” Just like that, her daughter was free of the evil spirit.
God’s actions may not always be what we desire or expect, but He is actively working according to a larger plan that is ultimately for our good. If we lay our expectations at His feet and trust Him wholeheartedly, this journey we call life can be managed with one small plea, “Jesus, help me.”
And oh, how He delights in our asking!
I can only pray that one day I hear Jesus say to me, “Oh, woman! Your faith is something else!”
**All scripture is from the Message: Matthew 15:22-28 unless otherwise stated
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