Faith Doesn’t Take No for an Answer

Let me tell you a story about a woman who was determined to see her daughter set free, no matter what obstacle tried to get in her way.

The story is taken out of Matthew 15:21-28, which tells of a Canaanite woman who went to where Jesus was, crying out to Him to be merciful and to help her daughter. She told Him that her daughter was severely demon possessed – not just possessed by a demon, but severely possessed.

Of course, we know Jesus helped her, right? Instead do you know what He did?  He completely ignored her! It says right there in verse 23: “He answered her not a word” (NKJV).

Have you ever felt as if God were ignoring you? You prayed and prayed, and it seemed that your prayers never reached God at all. No answer came – no relief, and you were running out of time. Our faith is greatly tested at these times; we get discouraged and begin to wonder if God still cares at all. Doesn’t He know we have a deadline? Did He go on vacation? Maybe He just wants to see us sweat it out or see what we’ll do. Then, in some cases, we get angry and cry, “I don’t understand why God won’t answer me!”

Next, the Canaanite woman suffered rejection! Verse 23 says, “His disciples came and urged Him, saying ‘send her away’” (NKJV). We have all been rejected, told no, and sent on our way. When we follow God and set ourselves to serve Him wholeheartedly, we are usually rejected by others. They talk about us and say we are too fanatical. They do this because our faith and zeal challenge them; they become convicted and don’t want to change, so they try to bring us down.

Worst of all, she was rejected by those who were following Jesus. Believers! Christians!  It’s one thing to have the world reject you for wanting to draw close to God, but when fellow believers do it, it is even more hurtful. Don’t let them put your fire out; just hang out with others that also have vision and passion for God! Don’t allow anyone to keep you from pressing forward in your faith.

Then, in verse 24, Jesus told her she didn’t qualify: “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (NKJV). This woman was a Canaanite and a Gentile, and here was Jesus whom she had heard healed people, cast out demons, gave the blind sight, and made the lame walk. And Jesus said she didn’t qualify? Her daughter was severely demon possessed and needed help, so she came determined to see her child set free, and Jesus said, “Sorry, I can’t help you because you are not a Jew. You don’t qualify for a miracle.”

Have you ever been told you don’t qualify – that you don’t make the cut and that you don’t have enough education or experience? What would your response be after being ignored, rejected, and told that you don’t qualify??

This woman, it says in verse 25, came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” She worshiped Him! After the hurt and rejection, she worshiped Him. That is loyalty!

We will all face a time of crisis in our lives when we pray, cry out to God, beg Him to answer us, and our prayers still go unanswered. Maybe that loved one dies, or in spite of all you are doing to make that marriage work, your spouse walks out the door. Or, no matter how much you pray for that wayward child of yours, he seems to sink deeper into sin and run farther from God, leaving your heart broken.

What will you do? Will you get mad at God? Will you quit, turn your back on Him, and walk away? Maybe you’ll stay in church, but you’ll grow bitter, unforgiving, and untrusting. Or, will you allow your faith to be pushed down and buried, never believing God for anything again lest you get hurt and disappointed? You could choose to follow the example of this great woman and say, “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!” (Psalm 103:1, NKJV). “I choose to worship You anyway. I refuse to let go of my faith in God!”

Let’s see how her story ends. Jesus answered her and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs” (Matthew 15:25, NKJV). Now He has insulted her! Talk about adding insult to injury! But did that stop her? No! This woman was not taking no for an answer!

Her faith had pushed past every road block that was presented, and she answered, “‘True, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their master’s table.’ Then Jesus answered and said to her, ‘O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire!’ And her daughter was healed from that very hour” (Matthew 15:27-28, NKJV).

Never let go of your faith. Be strong; be bold. Never be afraid to believe God for big things just because you might be disappointed. What if you do believe, and you receive what you are believing for? Remember, some things take months or years. Delay doesn’t mean denial. Stand on God’s Word, and believe!