The Test Of Silence

Not my children - of course - no silence there.
So what silence am I referring to?
George Muller said “The great point is never to give up until the answer comes.”
In Matthew 15 an emotional story unfolds;
-a woman comes crying to Jesus with a very serious request,
-a demon oppressed daughter - no help for her has come,
-a desperate situation,
-a plea for mercy from a mother’s heart...


But “Jesus did not answer a word.”  (Matt. 15:23)
Silence...
Sometimes I would pay for this precious gift.
But not if someone I love is hurting; not when I am in a desperate situation; not when I cry out to the LORD.
I would really like to hear something good from Him.


What did the mother do in the story with His silence?  She kept crying out to Him. 
This story has always bothered me just a touch.  But I started noticing a few things lately.  First, in his silence, Jesus was expecting the woman's continuing response of faith.  Second, there were people watching this story unfold, and He wanted to teach them something. 


This mother never gave into despair, she never let go of hope, and she humbled herself at His feet.
“Lord, help me.”, she said.  
Why would she continue to pursue Jesus this way?   
Because of her faith...she believed that He was merciful.  She believed that He was the Lord, Son of David.  She believed that He would help her, even though she was a Gentile, and not a Jew.  
Her faith was great.  His mercy was sure.  Her daughter was healed.
And those that saw?  I don’t know for sure what they thought.
But when I read this story of faith, I am challenged today to not give up.  
My devotion says “He invited us in the silence to explore His character, learn of His will, and gain a proper perspective of how we fit into His plans.  He tells us to seek and we will find.”
When I first felt that the LORD was telling us to adopt Clive and then later Noelani, both times, I felt that He reminded me “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who ask receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”  Matt. 7:7-8.  Of course, in my short sighted vision, I was thinking of the money it would take to bring them home.  
But now, now......
He is more interested in my heart.  
I want faith like she had!
Today, in the silence, I pray one thing...
“Lord, help me.”
Amen