Many of us suffer from different ailments – physical, mental, and emotional – for which we desire healing. Maybe you’ve been to the doctor or therapist and left feeling frustrated because there wasn’t a quick fix. Or perhaps you’ve reached out for prayer, only to be discouraged when you didn’t receive the breakthrough you had your heart set on.
Oftentimes, we have our own ideas, expectations and beliefs for what should happen. Sadly, things don’t always work out the way we think they should. Yet, what looks like denial and failure, can actually be the jumpstart for the healing for which we’ve been hoping, if we’ll just step outside of our comfort zone. As a culture, we hate to be uncomfortable, and one thing that causes great discomfort is being offended. However, what if pushing past your offense is the very thing that is needed to receive your miracle?
In Mark 7:24-30 ESV, we find a Gentile, Syrophoenician woman who is desperate because her daughter is demon possessed. In front of everyone, she falls down at the feet of Jesus and begs Him to heal her daughter. Jesus replies in Mark 7:27, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” In essence, Jesus was saying that His priority was for healing and ministering to the children of Israel first, rather than those like her, who were outside of the Jewish faith and likened to dogs. That’s right; talk about dropping the mic!
Now this woman had heard of Jesus and traveled some distance to reach Him (probably seeing Him as her last hope), only to be called a dog. Picture the scenario for a moment. Can you imagine the shame and offense she must have experienced? What would you have done? Would you have held your head down and headed towards the nearest exit as fast as you could? This woman didn’t leave, but instead she responded, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs” (Mark 7:28).
Rather than being offended, hardening her heart and turning back, this woman instead humbled herself even more and stepped out even further onto the limb of faith. What a profound act of humility and desperation! She obviously got Jesus’ attention because Mark 7:29-30 says, “And he said to her, ‘For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.’ And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.”
Our humility and desperation move the heart of God, even to the point of changing His original agenda. When we are willing to forgo offense, shame, fear, unforgiveness, etc. and do whatever it takes to receive our healing, God takes notice and responds.
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:7-11 ESV)