THE HEART OF A MOTHER

"And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil." - Matthew 15:22

Here in the United States, Mother's Day began in my home state of West Virginia. Later, President Woodrow Wilson made Mother's Day an official holiday. For over 100 years, our nation has honored mothers on the second Sunday in May.

I have a wonderful mother. She is an old-fashioned mother, for which I am very grateful for. She loves her family. She has sacrificed so much through the years for her husband and children. Mom is a touching example of a loving servant. She, more than any woman I know, reflects the kind of woman described in Proverbs 31. When it comes to her two sons, Mom knows when something is wrong. Our pain is her pain. Our burdens are her burdens. Only God knows how often she has prayed for us.

A good mother has a heart for her children. She is willing to give her life for her children. We find such a woman in Matthew 15. A woman of Canaan came to Jesus with a great burden. Her daughter was oppressed with a devil. Spiritual warfare cannot be won with human weapons. She knew that Jesus was the only One who could help.

On the surface, it seemed like Jesus was unwilling to help this troubled mother. Her faith was being tested. Yet in the end, this mother received the answer that she yearned for.

Whether you are a mother that is burdened for your children, or a person honoring your mother this weekend, I want you to consider three things about this mother in Matthew 15.

1. DESPERATION

First of all, we find desperation. She was a desperate woman. Desperation drives us closer to Jesus. We do our most fervent praying when we face a dire situation.  Desperation humbles us, placing us in a position where God will bless. Many mothers can testify that God did great miracles when they desperately sought Him.

You'd think that people would be desperate today, but most are not. With a pandemic going on, unemployment at an all-time high and sharp divisions in our nation, we are living in desperate times. Like the mother in our story, it is time for us to desperately seek Jesus today.

2. DETERMINATION

Secondly, there was determination. Even though it seemed like Jesus was not responsive to her plea, she keep asking. She kept praying. I wonder how many times we quit praying because God seemed unwilling to respond. Perhaps we were just one request away from getting the answer when we quit praying. O, may God stir our hearts to pray until the answer comes. We need to be like Jacob who said, "I will not let you go until you bless me."

3. DEPENDENCE

Finally, there was dependence. Although she knew her unworthiness in approaching Jesus, she still came seeking His help and trusting Him for that help. Today, we seek help from the government, family and friends. Few are seeking God. Even fewer are trusting Him and His Word. God can be trusted at all times ... including right now.

The woman from Canaan shows us the heart of a mother. A godly mother has concern for her child, trust in the Master and the tenacity to pray until an answer comes.

I am thankful to have such a mother myself. What about you?

Not only do we see the heart of a mother in Matthew 15, we learn about the heart of Jesus. While we honor mothers this weekend, let us seek to emulate our Lord. May His compassion fuel our own. His love and grace should stir us to show mercy to those around us. Our Lord's answer to pray should motivate us to pray for others. You see, a mother's love can only go so far, but God's love goes much further and deeper.

Thank God for praying mothers! Even more, thank God that He tenderly answers those prayers with love and mercy!