This week I’ve begged God to answer a prayer, but I don’t know if it’s ever going to happen. It seems like the harder I pray, the worse my situation gets. I know God is in control in my head, but right now I feel like my world is spinning and will never stop.

I know I need to keep praying… but sometimes I feel like I am a 5-year-old child trying to solve an unsolvable math equation. I must not have the right formula. I see the answer, but nothing adds up right.

Do you ever wonder why God’s timetable doesn’t match yours? You want God to fix your problem like yesterday, but it feels like it’s taking forever. You’ve been praying for your loved one to turn from darkness to light, but their life keeps getting darker. You fervently intercede for someone’s healing, but they end up even more sick. Have you ever wondered if you were prayer handicapped? Obviously God can do anything, so maybe you’re just not asking the right way.

Prayer is such a mystery sometimes. If God knows everything and controls everything, I shouldn’t even have to ask. How does my asking change anything anyway?

These are the crazy thoughts that run in my head in the middle of the night when I am up worrying about what I can’t fix. If you’ve ever been up at 2 AM trying to figure out how to turn off your worry-filled brain, you are not alone.

This week, God spoke straight to my heart and reminded me that sometimes I overthink and make complicated what I must simply accept by faith. I came to see this as I opened up my Bible and read a story of a woman who prayed and refused to give up.

Lessons learned from a woman of great faith

Continue to cry out for God’s Mercy

This woman’s lament was not because she herself was in pain, but she was interceding for someone she deeply loved. This mama bear took on herself the pain of her daughter and came to Jesus in tears. We continue to call out to Jesus trusting His compassion is greater than our pain. While you wait, remember He has already gone to the cross on your behalf and covered your sin with His mercy. You can trust that His mercy never fails.

• “And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.'” (Matthew 15:22, ESV)

Worship before You receive Your Answer

Jesus tested her faith by saying no, but this woman bowed down in worship in response. She acknowledged He was her Savior. Instead of feeling rejected and discouraged, she opened her heart and believed. We can choose to humble ourselves before the Lord and confess He alone is worthy of our hearts. When we lift up the name of Jesus in the midst of our waiting season, fear and discouragement will lose their grip on us. Your faith will grow stronger as you make your view of God greater.

• “But she came and knelt before Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.'” (Matthew 15:25)

Surrender to His Will, but acknowledge Your Need

When Jesus did not initially respond to her request, this woman gave up all her rights and trusted His authority. I love how she submitted, but yet continued to intercede. She said, “Yes, Lord…. Yet even….” She trusted God knew what was best, and despite her misery, she knew her God would provide a tiny measure of His mercy to meet her need. In our waiting season, we can submit to His path for us and keep seeking His goodness. With your hands open, you let go of your expectations, but you can stay expectant and trust your God will provide what you need.

• “She said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” (Matthew 15:27)

Friend, God is rich in mercy toward you and me. (I confess sometimes I struggle to believe this.) Do you need help remembering our God’s mercy never runs out? I’ve created a one-page printable packed with God’s promises of unfailing mercy to help encourage my heart, and I’d love to share these 10 powerful Scriptures with you. Sign up today as a member of the Wildfire Faith Community and  grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library.

When you read this woman’s full story, you may be a little shocked at how Jesus initially responded to her. But let me let you in on a secret: Jesus walked 50 miles to meet that woman that day. This is the only event recorded during his visit to her city. He came for her. He came to meet her need. This is how much our Savior loves us.

Friend, one day, we will see Jesus face to face, and there will be no more pain. He will wipe away our tears forever. And this woman will be sitting at His table, and so will you and I. We may be waiting for crumbs right now, but a feast is coming soon.

This is the only woman in the Bible whom Jesus described as having “great faith,” but you and I can learn from her example and continue her legacy. We can cry out to Jesus with worshipful hearts. Let’s fall at our feet before Jesus and believe He has more for us.

a woman of great faith says “yes lord” while she waits.

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