The Woman Who Wouldn’t Leave
Matthew 15 tells the story of a Gentile woman—a mother—who comes to Jesus desperate for help. Her daughter is severely tormented by a demon, and she’s run out of options.
She pleads with Jesus: “Have mercy on me, oh Lord, Son of David!”
And Jesus? He gives her no reply. Not even a word.
Ouch.
You ever been there? You’re pleading with God for six months, and it’s as if heaven is silent. Can I tell you that you’re in good company? Because guess what—heaven was silent for this woman too.
When Everyone Tells You to Leave
It gets worse.
The disciples come to Jesus and say, “Tell her to go away. She’s bothering us with all her begging.”
Church people can miss it. I am a church people. I love church people. But the disciples—men who knew Jesus, loved Jesus, gave up everything to follow Jesus—they said she was annoying.
Maybe you’ve been there. You went to church, you tried it, and people acted like your situation was too impossible. The cancer’s too aggressive. The addiction’s too strong. The betrayal’s too deep.
But this woman doesn’t leave.
Reading Between the Lines
Jesus tells her in verse 24, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep—the people of Israel.”
She’s a Gentile. He’s essentially saying, “It’s not your turn.”
But here’s what I love: her faith helps her read between the lines. He didn’t say no. He said not yet.
So what does she do?
Verse 25: “But she came and worshiped him.”
She’s worshiping Him before she sees her miracle.
The Warfare Is in Your Worship
Do you recognize that the warfare is in your worship? You tear down the giants with worship. You refute the report of the enemy with your worship.
We get this backwards sometimes. We say we’ll worship when the relationship is restored. We’ll worship when we get the promotion. We’ll worship when the diagnosis changes.
And Jesus says no—you worship Me, and then you watch the wall come tumbling down.
She pleaded again: “Lord, help me.”
Jesus responds, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.”
He called her a dog. That’s painful.
But she’s not offended. The rest of the room is offended. We live in a culture that wants you to be offended. They would love for you to pick up every single offense, because the enemy wants to divide us.
She says in verse 27: “That’s true, Lord, but even the dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath the Master’s table.”
A Crumb Is More Than Enough
She’s saying: Jesus, You are Lord. Jesus, You are King. There is nothing too difficult for You. And a scrap from the table of Jesus is more than enough.
A crumb is more than enough for that cancer report. More than enough for that wayward child. More than enough for that addiction. More than enough for that financial crisis.
Jesus, I just need a crumb from Your table, and I will stay seated here until I see You move.
Verse 28: “Dear woman, your faith is great. Your request is granted.”
And her daughter was instantly healed.
We Have What They Need
In Acts 3, Peter and John encounter a man who’s been begging for 40 years. Forty years in the same condition—lame from birth, dependent on others, unable to provide for himself.
When he sees Peter and John, he asks for money. That’s what he thinks he needs.
But Peter looks at him intently and says in verse 6: “I don’t have any silver or gold for you, but I’ll give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk.”
Listen—we don’t let what we don’t have stop us from giving what we do have.
We have something greater than what the world thinks it needs. We have the power of the resurrected Christ living in us. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you and in me.
Where Else Would You Go?
So here’s my question for you today: What storm are you facing that’s tempting you to leave Jesus’ presence too soon?
Maybe heaven seems silent right now. Maybe well-meaning people have told you your situation is too hard. Maybe you’ve been waiting for 40 years—or 40 days—and you’re exhausted.
Don’t leave too soon.
Your desperation is a gift. When you are desperate for Him, you approach Him differently. When you are desperate for Him, you will see Him move.
Stay at His feet. Worship before you see the miracle. Read between the lines. Refuse to pick up offense.
Because your faith—your persistent, imperfect, “I just need a crumb” faith—is exactly what moves the heart of God.
He Walked 50 Miles
Remember: Jesus walked 50 miles on foot to meet that woman exactly where she was.
He traveled to her doorstep. He sees you in your pit. He knows exactly where you are in your brokenness. He recognizes what you’re walking through in your marriage, your finances, your health, your family.
He’s not finished with your story.
Where else would you go? He alone has the words of eternal life.
Stay at His feet, friends. Don’t leave too soon.
Want more encouragement? Follow Sara’s daily devotionals on Instagram @saraforhetz or tune in weekdays 6-10 AM on 88.3 The Wind.
