“But He answered her not a word” (Matthew 15:23)

If you’re a sinner, and worry God might not save you if you repent, the incident of the Syrophoenician woman may shock you. Many times in the Bible, God doesn’t answer prayers until the people involved do something God wants, or experience something that makes the thing prayed for more precious.

Christ intended to help her, but He let her faith play out. Were her prayers acceptable? Yes. Was her case desperate? Yes. Was she sincere? Yes. Did she have faith? Yes. Christ even said to her, “great is your faith!” (Matthew 15:28).

True faith brings peace, even when the desired result doesn’t come quickly. God’s plan sometimes requires a trial of faith, rather than a reward of faith. Genuine faith may be in the soul like a hidden seed, but as yet it may not have budded and blossomed into joy and peace. Praise God, she has become for all time, an example of persistent faith for those who come to Christ.
 
Many ask and receive quick results, but this isn’t always the case. Only God knows what’s best for the most amount of people when someone gets saved. Looking back, many saints see the moment God granted a request as perfectly timed for the maximum benefit of the Kingdom of God.

Some, like the Philippian jailer, are in a moment turned from darkness to light, but others are plants of slower growth. A deeper sense of sin may be given to you instead of a sense of pardon, and in such a case you’ll need patience to bear the extended burden.

Oh, poor heart, though Christ puts you off, or even slays you, trust Him; though He may give you little encouragement, believe in the love of His heart. Don’t, I beg you, give up seeking or trusting Him, because you haven’t yet obtained what you long for. Cast yourself on Him, and patiently depend on Him, even if you can’t rejoice in your hope.

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