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Have you ever noticed how many of Jesus’ miracles were requests from parents on behalf of their children. As a mother this encourages me to pray even more for my children, seeing how Jesus is faithful to answer the prayer of a parent.
I love the story of the Syrophoenician woman who came to Jesus on behalf of her daughter. This meeting was recorded in both Matthew 15:21-28 and Mark 7:24-30.
An evil spirit was tormenting this woman’s daughter. Jesus was visiting her town and she went to him to ask for a miracle on her daughter’s behalf.
But this woman was not a Jew. She was a Canaanite woman, outside of the covenant. But something inside of her made her believe Jesus would help her.
At first Jesus seemed to ignore her pleas for help. His disciples asked Him to send this woman away, she was annoying with her constant asking. They had no patience or compassion for this heathen woman.
Finally, she had her moment with Jesus. At first it seemed to go no better than her conversation with His disciples. He tells her He was only sent to the lost sheep of Israel, which she is not.
As she continues to plead with Him, He tells her, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
The Jews considered anyone who was not Jewish to be unclean. Those outside the covenant were called dogs. That’s what Jesus was referring to when he calls her a dog.
But this mama would not be put off or discouraged.
Instead she responds with, “Yes it is, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
This woman refused to be offended. She acknowledged Jesus as her Master even though she was not one of His chosen people. She believed He had more than enough power to save even those who were currently outside of the covenant.
Jesus was so impressed with her persistence and faith that He granted her request. Her daughter was healed.
What can this persistent mom teach us today? Many things.
Sometimes Jesus can seem unkind. We bring Him the desires of our heart, our fears and worries. We ask Him to touch those we love most with His healing and saving power. But He seems silent and unconcerned, even cold.
Our heart is broken before Him and it seems like He doesn’t care. But He does care. Don’t stop praying. Sometimes we just have to keep pressing in, even when His response seems uncaring.
Don’t get offended if Jesus doesn’t respond the way you thought He should. Don’t stop praying because He doesn’t answer your prayer as quickly as you thought He would. Even when those around you seem to encourage you to give up, DON’T!
Press into Him in prayer for your children. Believe that He hears you. Trust Him to answer in His own way and timing.
Maybe you also feel like a person on the outside who has no right to ask for God to do anything special for you. If so, remember this woman. Let her be your example. Though she had no right to ask so much from Jesus, she asked anyway. She believed His crumbs were more than enough to satisfy her every need.
Jesus can do anything. But He responds to our requests. Our prayers move His heart Don’t underestimate the position you have in the Kingdom as a mom who prays for her children.
God delights to hear and answer your prayers. But we must allow Him the right to answer them how and when He chooses.
I love that her daughter wasn’t even with her when she asked Jesus to touch her. Her daughter was at home in bed. But her mama was knocking on Jesus’ door, refusing to be denied an audience with Him, refusing to be offended when He seemed uncaring, refusing to leave His presence without a blessing for her daughter.
If your child is struggling, bring them to Jesus. If they are far from the Lord, bring them to Him in prayer. Plead with Jesus on their behalf. Even if they will not come to Jesus themselves, your prayers can bring them to the throne of Heaven. You don’t need your child’s permission or even their knowledge to present them before the throne of grace. You can do this work secretly, believing Jesus to reward you openly with answered prayer.
We often give up way too soon. Being a Christian mom means we have to press in for our children. We have to hope against all hope. We have to have faith for them, when they don’t have faith for themselves. What an honor and a privilege it is to be a mom who believes Jesus for His plan in her children’s lives.
Don’t disappear, Precious Mama. He hears and He cares.
God Bless!
© Audrey McCracken, 2024
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