Great Faith

"Dear woman," Jesus said to her, "your faith is great. Your request is granted." And her daughter was instantly healed.

Matthew 15:28, NLT

Great faith. Instant healing. A Gentile woman humbly and persistently pleading with Jesus to heal her child. Do I have such faith? Am I willing to fall to my knees, putting all thoughts of myself and what people think of me aside, begging God to hear my prayers? I think the bigger question is, "Do I really believe that God will answer my prayers?" I like to think that I would have had the same faith and response that this woman had. The Bible says, "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see" (Heb. 11:1). I often find myself only having faith when I can see a little bit of what is ahead--what I am hoping for. When I can't see what's ahead, I become despondent and frustrated. I start working harder, believing that I have to make things happen. I start to put faith in myself and not in God. Just as Jesus tested the woman's faith before he granted her request, so God tests my faith. I am in situations where there seems to be no way out. I come to a point where there is nowhere else to look but up. And I fall to my knees, putting all thoughts of myself and what people think of me aside, begging God to hear my prayers. And you know what? He always answers. Maybe that's what it takes for me to hear what he's been saying all along! Perhaps you are going through a time where you can't even see two steps in front of you--you can't even begin to see the future God has in store for you. Will you start putting faith in yourself and start working harder, or will you run to God, fall into his arms, rest in his presence, and allow him to guide your life? Will you be as shamelessly persistent as that woman on the dusty road? Have faith--God has a purpose for your life. He will answer your prayers.