In Matthew 15 and Mark 7, Jesus takes His disciples north of Galilee into foreign territory. He tells them to tell no one, but the word gets out. It always gets out.

A Syrophoenician woman runs up to Jesus, professes her belief that He is the Messiah, the Son of David, and then pleads for the healing of her cruelly demon-possessed daughter. Jesus stuns the crowd by not saying anything. The one who could speak and create the universe, and who knows what everyone around Him is thinking, quietly speaks to the woman’s heart.

When Jesus finally breaks His silence, the woman knows that Jesus has done — and what He is going to do next. Jesus playfully banters with her, and then commends her faith and announces to all that her daughter already is healed. The Gentile crowd cheers with gusto! Yet... [pause]

Imagine if Jesus had started talking the moment the woman begged for His help. True, her daughter still would have been healed, but all else would have been lost.

If you pray for the salvation of a child or grandchild, and wonder if the Lord hears your prayers, rest assured that He does. Never give up hope. Keep trusting the Lord’s heart.

This is Luis Palau.