A Mother’s Faith: 7 Lessons from the Syrophoenician Woman

It is my final article in the ‘Unnamed Women in the Bible’ Series on the blog. And this week, we will take a look at a mother’s faith and 7 lessons from the Syrophoenician Woman

In the book of Mark, we meet another unnamed woman in the bible who is introduced to us as the Syrophoenician woman. She was from the tribe of Tyre and Sidon and was also referred to as a woman of Greek origin and a Canaanite woman. Her story highlights the power of persistence and great faith. She was a mother who went in search of a miracle for her sick daughter.

Who was the Syrophoenician Woman in the Bible?

 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. – Mark 4:24-26

The Syrophoenician Woman’s story can be found in the book of Mark Chapter 7:24-30. Her Greek origin made her an outcast. In that time, gentiles had no part in salvation as it was the sole right of the Jews. This mother had a daughter who had an unclean spirit. The message translation says she had a disturbed daughter.

Every mother can testify about the anxiety and pressures that come with caring for a sick child. This can give us a little insight into this mother’s pain and condition. Her child was troubled and she needed a healing miracle for her. She is most remembered for her response to Jesus when she approached him to heal her daughter. Rather than draw back in anger or hopelessness at the words of Jesus, she remained steadfast in her faith and kept her focus on Jesus.

 Jesus and the Syrophoenician Woman in the Bible

And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone. – Mark 7:27-30

The bible says the Syrophoenician Woman heard of Jesus, came before him, fell down at his feet and begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. What have you heard or found out for yourself about the person of Jesus? I am not talking about what others have said about Jesus, but what you have discovered for yourself through a personal relationship with him. It was her conviction from what she heard of Jesus that propelled her to take action.

It is also interesting to see how Jesus meets us at the point of our deepest needs and struggles. Mark 7:24 says that he arose from where he was and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. Jesus came to the town where the Syrophoenician Woman lived. He showed up in a place where a Canaanite woman was in search for healing for her disturbed child.

In their first and only encounter, Jesus immediately lets her know after she makes her request that it was not right to take what belonged to God’s children and give it to the dogs. This response was enough to throw anyone off balance and bring out all kinds of negative emotions from within. Yet with full faced confidence, this woman answered Jesus saying, – “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

It was obvious that she understood that as a gentile woman, she was unqualified to benefit from the salvation and healing powers of Christ. Yet she persisted, remained humble at the feet of Jesus until she got her miracle.

How often do we give up when the answers we want don’t come through?

How long are you willing to sit at the feet of Jesus to hear him speak that life-changing word into your life?

How well have you mastered your emotions especially in moments of distress and uncertainty?

Jesus was moved by this woman’s response and said that because of her statement – she was free to go back home as the demon troubling her daughter had left her. Her daughter was free and healed.

For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone. – Mark 7:29

Not only did the Syrophoenician Woman display humility in her words and actions before Jesus, she showed us the power of persistent faith through her story. And even though we never got to know who her daughter was, we will always remember a mother’s fierce love for her troubled child, her great faith in the face of uncertainty and how she stood in the gap for her daughter’s healing.

7 Lessons from the Syrophoenician Woman

1. She looked beyond her origin

Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. – Mark 4:26

Her identity and history had disqualified her from being a partaker of the blessings and privileges that belonged to God’s children. But through faith, she was able to break away from the limitations of her identity in search of answers for her troubled soul.

Are you trapped in the web of a false and counterfeit identity? How often do we embrace false identity labels instead of who God has called us to be? Your past, history or family background cannot stop Jesus from loving you. And just like he gave room to the Syrophoenician to come before him, he is more than ready to welcome you into his presence.

2. She discovered Jesus

 And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. – Mark 7:25

Jesus was on a quiet mission to the region of Tyre and Sidon and wanted to remain unnoticed. But then, a woman with a deeply rooted family problem discovers where he is and begs him to heal her daughter. The bible says that she heard of him and came before him. What she had heard about Jesus was convincing enough to persuade her to go discover him for herself.

Many times, what we hear about God isn’t enough – God wants you to come to him and sit at his feet. The good news is that you can come as you are. Come with your needs, questions and burdens and sit at the feet of Jesus. Come and find out about the person of Jesus. In one mother’s quest for healing for her troubled child, she discovered Jesus and experienced his miracle- working power. Have you discovered who Jesus really is?

3. She interceded for her child

A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to Him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.” – Matthew 15:22

The book of Matthew gives us a more graphic picture of this mother’s pain. She had a problem that affected the stability and atmosphere of her family. It was a condition that was mentally and emotionally draining. You can ask a mother caring for a challenged or sick child. Or a mother whose heart is crying for freedom and deliverance for a prodigal child and you may just understand this mother’s pain.

This Canaanite woman came crying before Jesus with the words – Lord, have mercy on me. My daughter is suffering terribly from demon possession. This was a deep cry for mercy as she stood in the gap for her daughter.

Have you given up so easily on that troubled, sick and straying child? Or will you come daily before the throne of God in deep intercession for that child.

The bible says this: Rise during the night and cry out. Pour out your hearts like water to the Lord. Lift up your hands to him in prayer, pleading for your children, for in every street they are faint with hunger. – Lamentations 2:19

In this life, many things will work to hold your child captive and try to derail him from his God-given destiny. But as a mother, you can pray consistently in faith and come before God to heal, deliver and protect your child’s life.

Let’s take a cue from this Canaanite woman who said –‘Lord, have mercy on me’. Whatever affected her child affected her too. Her daughter was helpless in her state but she had a mother who interceded on her behalf for a miracle.

Today, you too can stand in the gap for that broken, weak, helpless child and remain steadfast in prayers for your prodigal child. Keep interceding in faith for a victory, miracle and complete turnaround in that child’s life. This is how you fight your battles – at the feet of Jesus in prayers, worship and unbroken trust in his name.

4. She was Resilient

Jesus did not answer a word. So, his disciples came to Him and urged Him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” He answered, “I was only sent to the lost sheep of Israel.”- Matthew 15:23-24

Even the disciples of Jesus asked him to send this woman away for her persistent cries. Yet this woman stood her ground and persevered through the hurdles until she got her miracle.

Strong, difficult to keep down, irrepressible are some of the words used to describe resilient. In this woman’s place of adversity, she remained strong and refused to be kept down because of stereotypes and her identity.

If she had to wait, she would wait and even when she was ignored, she remained unmoved. And in the midst of a crisis, she was able to effectively manage her emotions and choose her response.

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. – 2 Corinthians 4:8

5. She was a woman of great faith

But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”  – Mark 7:27-30

Her words give us insight into her faith. She said that she was willing to feed from the crumbs of healing and provisions that fell from the children’s table. In other words – Yes, my lord, even those who are unworthy can still pick from the leftovers of the children and be satisfied. (Paraphrase)

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. – Hebrews 11:1

The Syrophoenician woman saw beyond what the ordinary eyes could see. Her faith propelled her, brought her before Jesus and made her speak the right words in his presence. That faith gave her back her family in a restored state. This Greek woman displayed such great faith that is still spoken about many years after her departure. Her faith kept her and changed her story.

Never let wrong ideologies, limitations, the past or your history stop you from going after your miracle. Anything is possible to him that believes. God is still in the business of rewriting stories.

What do you see concerning your marriage? What do you see concerning your children and family? Have you dared to believe for a change in that situation? You may have cried and prayed and it looks like nothing is happening. Stand firm in faith and don’t give up. And even when the answer you seek does not look like what you have been praying for – keep your eyes on God and trust in his unfailing love for you.

6. She was humble

But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. – Mark 7:25

The bible says this woman came and fell down at Jesus feet. She took away her pride and bowed before him. She had never met him but was able to recognize him as Lord. And she was still not ashamed before Jesus despite his rejecting response to her.

A humble heart listens, a humble heart is teachable and a humble heart respects authority. And even when Jesus said the children’s meal cannot be given to dogs, she did not let her emotions dictate her response.

Anger would have been the fastest response to the words of Jesus. But, No. Her humility became a pathway to her miracle. Is your pride limiting you from stepping into the blessings God has prepared for you today? What does your response look like in moments of distress and times of adversity?

7. She was full of love and wisdom

 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love is commitment. Love is sacrifice. Love believes, hopes, endures and never gives up. Love kept this woman and love enabled her to hold on and keep believing in faith for her sick child.

Love was her driving force. A deep-rooted love for her child and family drove her before the feet of Jesus for answers. Love is much more than the feelings and emotions. It is what will keep you standing in the midst of adversity and compel you to stay consistent in prayer for your children. Love helped her to keep standing in gap for her troubled daughter and love restored and gave her back her family whole and restored.

The Syrophoenician woman was also full of wisdom. To have heard of Jesus meant she had access to the right kind of information. And because of  this wisdom, she refused to murmur, complain or be bitter about her predicament.

There is no record of her speaking any negative word about her challenge and daughter’s condition. She watched her words and spoke only when necessary. And we can see that it was only when she came before Jesus that she revealed and released her burdens before him. May God give us the wisdom to speak right and also fill our hearts with a deep love for our families.

Conclusion

A certain woman who was of Greek origin came and received the blessings that belonged to the Jews. She came with a heavy burden before Jesus and her words gave her a testimony. Her persistence and great faith gave her the miracle she yearned for.

“And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.” – Mark 7:30 (ESV)

In this woman’s predicament was victory revealed. In the midst of her confusion, she found peace for her troubled heart. In the turbulent places of her life, she remained calm and sat at the feet of Jesus. And in her persistence, she received a miracle for her daughter. Where and who do you run to in times of distress and when the challenges of life come?

Prayer

Dear Father, may I truly find you as I seek you. May I always run to you first in moments of distress and hopelessness. May I find wisdom, comfort and answers to the questions in my head as I sit at your feet. May I be bold enough to stand before you and ask for healing, deliverance and breakthroughs for those that I love. May words always be full of faith to break through every mountain and birth great miracles in my life and family. Amen!

Read also:

A Divine Encounter: 3 Quick Lessons from the Woman at the Well

7 Uplifting Psalms You Can Pray Over Your Family