Matthew 15 tells of a woman who came to Jesus to deliver her demon possessed daughter.  When she pleaded with Jesus, she received no reply. Eventually, the Lord told her that she wasn’t the kind of person He came to help.  Wow!  How many of us would have just walked away discouraged and hurting after an answer like that?  Not this woman.  She was desperate. She wasn’t going anywhere until she received that miracle!

So what did she do?  Verse 25 says that she worshiped Him.  I think that it’s important that we learn to worship God in the silence.  We shouldn’t be quick to interpret His silence as indifference because we can trust that He does love us and cares about our circumstances.  Even if we feel He is telling us “no” we should still worship Him for His wisdom and mercy.  He has a greater perspective on our lives so we can trust His “no”.

But she still didn’t give up.  Remember, she was desperate!  This wasn’t a new car she was praying for, this was her daughter!  I think there’s something about desperation that moves the heart of God.  This woman wasn’t whispering a casual request.  She was pleading so loudly and persistently that the disciples were bothered by her.  In the end, Jesus granted her request.  I believe he honored her desperation with answered prayer.  It was Hebrews 11:6 in action.  He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.  Or could that be read, “desperately seek Him” or “persistently, earnestly, tenaciously seek Him”?  Don’t give up when God is silent.  Persist with faith!

One last thought.  When I was in my high school drama class, my teacher used to talk about the dramatic pause.  Sometimes the silence during the pause speaks volumes.  Jesus’ pause may have just been a way to test the woman’s faith.  Whatever the case, if God is silent, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to keep listening anyway.