April 23: The Canaanite Woman: Faith That Breaks Barriers

Theme: Demonstrating persistence and faith that overcomes obstacles 

Scriptural Passage: Matthew 15:21-28  

Jusene Brown
Kings SDA Church

What Are You Hoping For? What Are You Praying to God For?

How important is the breakthrough you are seeking from God? Have you done everything you can to seek Him while also bringing your request before Him in prayer?

 Jesus desires for us to have great faith, but faith is often tested.  Many times, obstacles stand in the way of our miracles. Let us explore the story of the Canaanite woman and the extraordinary faith she demonstrated. A faith that we, too, can have.

 The Canaanite woman had a deep problem, her daughter was severely demon possessed. Imagine the torment she faced every day, the anguish of seeing her child suffer with no relief in sight. Desperation drove her to break every cultural and religious boundary. She was an outsider, and according to Jewish tradition, someone unworthy of God’s blessings. Yet, she refused to let these barriers keep her from Jesus.

 Ellen G. White describes this woman’s faith beautifully in Desire of Ages, Chapter 43:

 “This woman had heard of the prophet, who, it was reported, healed all manner of diseases. As she heard of His power, hope sprang up in her heart. Inspired by a mother’s love, she determined to present her daughter’s case to Him. It was her resolute purpose to bring her affliction to Jesus. He must heal her child… She determined not to lose her only hope.”

  Barriers the Canaanite woman faced and her resilience

1.  She faced barriers: social, religious, and even what seemed like rejection from Jesus Himself.
2.  Cultural Barriers: She was not a Jew, and the disciples wanted to send her away. In their eyes, she was not one of “God’s chosen people.” Yet, she refused to be discouraged.
3.  Jesus’ Silence: At first, Jesus did not answer her. Sometimes, when we pray, we feel like God is silent. But silence does not mean rejection.
4.  A Difficult Response: When Jesus finally spoke, His words seemed harsh: “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” Many would have been offended or given up, but she remained steadfast, responding humbly yet boldly: “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” At that moment, Jesus saw what He had been looking for, unshakable faith. He responded, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.”

Lessons from the Canaanite Woman

• Be Persistent in Faith – She refused to take no for an answer. She kept asking until she received an answer. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)
•  Be Consistent in Prayer – Her repeated cries, “Lord, help me!” show that she did not stop praying or made her request known, even when she didn’t get an immediate answer.
•  Remove Doubt – She trusted that even a crumb from Jesus was enough to heal her daughter. We must believe that even God’s smallest blessing is powerful enough to transform our situation.
•  Wait on God’s Timing – At first, it seemed like Jesus was rejecting her. But His delay was not denial. He was testing her faith and teaching the disciples an important lesson, that God’s mercy extends beyond Israel to all who believe.

 Personal Testimony

Many years ago, I too was praying for a particular miracle. I claimed God’s promises, fasted, and prayed, yet it seemed my prayers went unanswered. Doubts crept in. I felt alone, wondering why everyone around me seemed to be receiving their blessings while I was still waiting.

 Then, the story of the Canaanite woman encouraged me. I believed that if God was blessing others, even a crumb from His table would be enough for me. I held on to faith and praise God, my miracle came a few years later.

 Closing

Like many of you, I am still praying for other miracles. Some of us have been praying for years. But let us hold on to faith. Jesus commended the Canaanite woman for her great faith. That same great faith is what He desires to see in us.

If you are waiting for a breakthrough, keep praying. If it feels like God is silent, keep believing. If the obstacles seem too great, remember the Canaanite woman; her faith broke barriers, and God honored her persistence.

 Your miracle is on the way. Keep the faith!