How Desperate Are your Prayers?

There is something in the heart of a mother that moves us to the place of desperation. Not the worldly and ineffective desperation of handwringing and floor pacing; but the cries that stem from deep within the heart to the ears of “the Lord, Son of David!”

This is where we find this Canaanite woman. We are never told her name, we only know that she is not an Israelite, but a woman from Canaan that has a “grievously vexed daughter” Her not being from Israel did not stop her from seeking out the Son of David. She had obviously heard of the miracles, the healings, and the deliverances that Jesus had been doing throughout the region, and her daughter was in need of a divine deliverance.

Grievously vexed means- to be terribly diseased, miserably sick because of being demonized. Doctors can provide medicine to minimize the symptoms and to reduce an outburst, but only a divine deliverance will cast out a demon, and this mother knew who to seek. How did Jesus respond to her? “But He answered her not a word.”

Most of us would see this as being ignored, maybe even believing that because we did “not belong” in this area, or were not of these people, that we should just leave, walk away. Not this desperate mother, not even after Jesus disciples had urged Him to send her away. They were apparently annoyed that she kept crying out. Where was their compassion? Hadn’t they been witnesses to all that Jesus had been doing? If we are honest we will admit we have either been like them, or have witnessed others being like them.

Jesus then responds to her by saying, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of Israel” This was no deterrent to a desperate mother! “Then she came and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, help me!” She reverenced who He was, and continued to ask for help. This word help means to ask someone to come to your aid, to succor. Succor comes from the Latin word, succursus. It means to rescue, to run and bring aid. She recognized that only Jesus could rescue and bring aid to her vexed daughter.

Jesus next comment to her may be misunderstood by many, thinking He was showing her disrespect. “But He answered her and said, It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” If Jesus had intended disrespect He would have had the disciples send her away when they asked Him. Instead He allowed her to reveal her desperation to all who were there. She became an example of persistent faith. She would not let go, she would not be denied. “And she said, Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from the masters table.”

Yes, Jesus was sent to the lost sheep of Israel, and sadly most of them refused and rejected Him; rejected Him to the point of crucifying Him. But there were many outsiders; foreigners that feasted on all the bread crumbs that fell from Jesus mouth! There were many in the Old Testament also. Rahab and Ruth; a harlot and a Moabitess that are in the very lineage of the Messiah. They also found breadcrumbs that changed their lives.

How did Jesus respond to this Canaanite mother’s acknowledging that she was a foreigner and was willing to get breadcrumbs from the masters table? “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” Her daughter was made whole from that very hour. Why? Because she knew who Jesus was, and she refused to leave until she received her request.

A desperate mother is a force to be reckoned with when they know the One who hears and heals. Jesus allowed her faith to flourish among all who were there. He said her faith was great; which means intense and exceeding. It is a faith that refused to let go. Her daughter was not simply healed, it says she was made whole. This means-to be healed and freed! This is so important to understand. Why? Because a physical healing does not mean the person is made whole spirit, soul, and body. This girl received both…she was now set free from the demon that had grievously vexed her life.

Thank God for desperate mothers and fathers that will not rest until the door they continually knock on in prayer is opened! Remember Hannah? 1 Sam 11-16

“There is hope in your future, says the LORD, That your children shall come back to their own border.” Jeremiah 31:17