Persistence

If you don't think something is the will of God, do you do it?

Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 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." But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed instantly. - Matt. 15:21-28

Did Jesus change his mind, or was he making a point?

He changed his mind. He weighed his actions against his purpose, based on the will of God, and then, because the woman showed great faith, he relented.

What if she had simply walked away?

We have to assume he would have let her go, which could be our lesson. On several occasions, Jesus talks about persistence, never giving up.

We may be reluctant to do that because we feel God heard us and chose not to help us, but what harm is there in trying again?

God is compassionate and loving. He will hear us. This woman's advantage is she got to speak to him directly through Jesus, and that helped. Jesus has human emotions.

Do you think God chastised Jesus when he returned home?

Suffering on the cross was more than enough. Even Jesus couldn't get the Father to let that cup pass.

So, sometimes, it doesn't work out the way we want. But we can still try.

Maybe, like this woman, we need to find a way to show that it can be done, and should be done.

More to come...