November 2: Cry Out!

Matthew chapters 15-16, Mark 7:24-8:26

Matthew 15:21-28

Amplified Bible (AMP)

21 And going away from there, Jesus withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.

22 And behold, a woman who was a Canaanite from that district came out and, with a [loud, troublesomely urgent] cry, begged, Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is miserablyand distressingly and cruelly possessed by a demon!

23 But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, Send her away, for she is crying out after us.

24 He answered, I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

25 But she came and, kneeling, worshiped Him and kept praying, Lord, help me!

26 And He answered, It is not right (proper, becoming, or fair) to take the children’s bread and throw it to the [a]little dogs.

27 She said, Yes, Lord, yet even the little pups ([b]little whelps) eat the crumbs that fall from their [young] masters’ table.

28 Then Jesus answered her, O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you wish. And her daughter was cured from that [c]moment.

I can't begin to understand why Jesus seemingly rebuffs the woman, but what I glean from this account is we must be persistent. She was annoying. But her heart was desperate. Many of us would have been hurt by Jesus' words and turned and slinked away, embarrassed. Could it be that Jesus was testing her to see if she was serious? She didn't care what anyone thought, obviously.

I'm reminded of a time in my life when I was desperate. I remember going to the altar service after service and just crying. I didn't minister to or pray with anyone. I either knelt or stood and just cried. Usually, people came over and prayed for me. Which was very odd. Did I care what they thought? No. I was desperate. I was tired of being strong. I was tired of pretending. I was not okay and I needed Jesus. He met me there every time!

People may have rolled their eyes and thought, "There she goes again, crying down at the altar."

But my Jesus saw that I was needing a touch from the Master more than anything. And He came through for me. Because I cast aside my pride as this lady did and didn't care if people thought I was a little whacked. 

Are you in a terrible situation right now? Are your children going down wrong paths? Are you worried about the evil choices they're making? Hey, maybe they're demon possessed, as this woman's child was, you just don't know. I'm serious. Don't stop going down to the altar. Don't stop crying desperately to Jesus! It worked for this lady! It worked for me!

"Dear Jesus right now a mother is extremely distraught about her child or children. She lies awake in bed at night, not knowing where they are. Maybe she doesn't know if the child is dead or alive. Please help her get out of bed, fall to her knees, and cry out to You! You know exactly where that wayward child is and You will tug at their heartstrings and bring them home and back to You! You see each tear that falls and You hear each cry! You WILL come through for this mother as You did for the Canaanite woman and as you did for me! I worship You and believe You will do the work! In Your precious name I pray, AMEN."