Have you been in deep distress thinking there was no way out and no one to turn to for help? If so, what did you do, where did you turn? Did you turn to a family member? Did you turn to a friend? Did you turn to God? Did you cry out to God in anguish?
When we experience devastation, we long for someone to help. When we are distressed to the point of breaking, we hope for a miracle. When all others have failed, we finally turn to God out of desperation. Thankfully, God is always with us and waiting for our turning to him.
Jesus is approached by someone who is despised. Notice she is a Canaanite. The Jews despised the Canaanites. She was considered unclean because of her heritage. In the patriarchal society, she was considered to be a lesser being because of her gender. Neither of those imposed viewpoints of her stopped her from coming to Jesus.
She has reached the end of her rope. She could not turn to the Rabbi’s because she was not a Jew. The doctors or magicians of her time could not help her. She was desperately seeking someone who could expel the demon from her daughter, who also would have been despised by the Jews. She cried out to Jesus in desperation, likely with tears streaming down her face.
When we are distraught, even if we have not maintained a good relationship with God, we can cry out to him. But we must remember, our cry must be from the heart. We must come in submission, recognizing his power. We must be willing to bow before a Holy God with humble hearts. This woman did so and received an answer from Jesus. If we come with humble hearts in total submission to God, we, too, will receive an answer from him.
I pray we all humble ourselves before God. I pray we cry out to God with a humble heart. I pray each one of us will submit to him, not just when we are desperate, but every day of our lives. Humble yourself before God. Cry out to God. Humbly submit to God each day. Trust God to provide what you need.
Matthew 15:22 Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.”
Marty Pressey 