July 31

Silence Not Denial

But Jesus did not answer a word. So His disciples came and urged Him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” — Matt 15:23 BSB

There is something very remarkable about Christ’s silence in this story. Normally, He was quick to respond to anyone who asked for His help. Scarcely ever did anyone have to ask Him twice. His heart was sensitive, like a mother’s heart toward her child’s cries, and He immediately answered every plea for assistance. But here, He stood and listened to this woman’s desperate pleading and didn’t say a word. Like a miser with hoards of gold who hears the cries of the poor and suffering at his gate but refuses to open the door, Jesus remained unmoved by this woman’s cries, even though He held all power to help her.

Why was He silent? It wasn’t because He couldn’t help her—His arm was never too weak. Even the best of us have moments when we are empty and have nothing to give, but Christ’s fullness was never exhausted. It wasn’t because He was too focused on His own approaching sorrows, either. Even on the cross, He forgot Himself to show kindness to others. Clearly, His silence was a test of the woman’s faith, meant to strengthen and deepen it. He was preparing her to receive an even greater blessing than she could have received at first.

Jesus sometimes seems silent to us when we cry out to Him. He may not answer, no matter how earnestly we pray. Is His silence a refusal? Not at all. Often, it’s meant to make us more earnest and to prepare our hearts to receive even richer and greater blessings. So, when Christ is silent to our prayers, it’s to draw us closer to Him in deeper humility and to ready our hearts for the gifts and blessings He will give.