Matthew 15:21-28 – Prayer
True faith might sometimes be found where you least expect it. It is grace, not place, which makes people believers. We may live in a prophet’s family, like Gehazi the servant of Elisha, and yet continue unbelieving and fond of the world. We may live in the midst of superstition and idolatry, like the little maid in Naaman’s house, and yet be a faithful witness of Christ. It is possible to dwell, like this woman, in an evil place and yet sit down in the kingdom of God.
We also see here that trouble sometimes proves to be a blessing to our souls. This woman has suffered much with seeing her daughter demon-possessed, but yet that trouble brings her to Christ and teaches her to pray. Without it she might have lived and died in careless ignorance and never seen Jesus at all. Every cross is a message from God and intended to do us good in the end. Trials are intended to make us think, to wean us from the world, to send us to the Bible, to drive us to our knees. Health is a good thing, but sickness is far better, if it leads us to God. Prosperity is a great mercy, but adversity is a greater one, if it brings us to Christ. Anything, anything is better than living in carelessness and dying in sin.
This woman gives us great encouragement to persevere in prayer both for ourselves and others. At first her prayer seems unnoticed. Yet she prays on. The first thing Jesus says seems discouraging. Yet she prays on. His second saying is even less encouraging. But even then she is not silenced, even then she prays. And she receives a gracious reward. The promise of seek and you shall find has never yet been broken. We may have to wait a long time, we may seem to have prayed in vain, but let us never give up while life lasts. Jesus has not changed, and He who answers this woman will answer us.
Questions
- Why is this woman’s trouble a blessing?
- What do these verses teach us about prayer?
Prayer Points
- Give thanks that Christ answers prayer.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.