I was born in India and moved to Dallas when I was seven years old. For most of my life, I was the only person who looked like me in the rooms I walked into, which would remind me that I was an outsider. I felt like everyone was staring at me — but I felt invisible at the same time.
Like many immigrants, I tried to just blend in and belong. I would never ask for anything more, even when I wanted it because I didn’t think I deserved it. I knew I may never get to sit at the table and should just be grateful to be in the room. A part of me also feared being rejected because I was different. Even my name, Simi, announced to everyone that I was an outsider.
Last year, God helped me heal from this mentality. For too long, I had allowed the world to show me who I was based on how they treated or responded to me on a given day. The root of this lie I believed for so long was not understanding of my identity and worth.
Recently I read about the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15 who goes out to meet Jesus; this is perhaps one of the most awkward encounters we see in Jesus’ ministry. (Not because of her, but because of Jesus.) It is also one of the few times Jesus uses the words “great faith.”
For context, the Canaanites were a group of people considered cursed by God because of their enmity with Israel. They were also idol worshippers. So automatically, the Canaanite woman’s culture, religion, and tradition make her an outsider who had no claim to the promises of God. Yet she comes crying to Jesus out of sheer desperation, asking for healing for her demon-possessed daughter.
A similar scene plays out again and again in Jesus’ ministry. People were constantly seeking Jesus for healing and bringing the sick and oppressed to Him. But this time, Jesus responds differently. Jesus ignores her plea. The disciples see Jesus’ silence to this outsider and ask Jesus to send her away. As if His silence wasn’t confusing enough, when Jesus does speak to her, His words are harsh and cold. He replied to this desperate mother, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs” (Matthew 15:26 NIV).
It is almost as if Jesus is trying to push her away, but this woman only pulls in closer to Him, kneeling before Him. “’Yes it is, Lord,’ she said. ‘Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table’” (Matthew 15:27).
This woman’s boldness to go to Jesus and her audacity to ask again and again is so inspiring. Even Jesus is amazed at her “great faith.”
Too often when we pray and God seems silent, we become offended or disappointed. We assume that God doesn’t care about our lives or that He thinks we are insignificant. But those are the moments God uses to grow our faith, just like He did with this Canaanite woman.
James 1:3-4 (CSB) teaches us “that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.”
Great faith has to be produced. Her desperation made her pursue Jesus but He used her persistence to produce great faith.
Friend, it is easy to pull away when you feel pushed down by life. It is hard to keep praying for the same thing when God seems silent. Maybe you have felt like God has rejected you, doesn’t care, or thinks you are insignificant. But the Canaanite woman’s story shows us that sometimes God doesn’t immediately answer our request because He wants us to spend more time talking to and pursuing Him. God doesn’t just want to answer that one prayer, He wants to produce great faith in us so that we can run this race with endurance.
This encounter isn’t about how Jesus changed His mind and gave in to her request. It’s about Jesus changing her mind about who she believed she was — an outsider who didn’t deserve the blessing of God and couldn’t belong to the family of God.
The Canaanite woman went home with her miracle, but also with the knowledge of her identity and worth.
Friend, if you feel unseen, unheard, or like an outsider, let this story remind you: You are not invisible to God. You are not insignificant. He sees you, knows you, and invites you to draw closer to Him. When you persistently pursue Jesus, even in moments of silence or confusion, you will discover more than an answer to your prayers — you will discover His heart for you.
Your identity and worth are not determined by the world or your circumstances but by the God who calls you His own. Pull in closer to Him, and let Him meet you there.
Wonderful! wonderful! wonderful! Simi:
what a great lesson you’ve revealed for us from that scripture.
I’m elated to hear what it did for you as well!
Blessings
Thank you dear friend
Thank you, Simi! I often feel invisible. Thank you for remind me that God sees. Even when people do not.
He sees and cares…even though our circumstances and cultural upbringing may tell us something diff. We stand firm on the Truth!
Yes! Our true identity is only found in the One who created us, knows us, and loves us!
Amen.
Simi, this was wonderful, thank you! I didn’t know about this passage. To be honest, I’m not very good about understanding the bible. But these devotions have been so helpful teaching me about the bible in ways that I can actually understand. I too know how it feels to be invisible and unimportant, thank you for the reminder that God sees me and that he made me worthy.
I love that He draws us in with His love and His word, to know Him and know ourselves more deeply.
Thank you Simi for that excellent word and what you wrote. Our lives are not determined by the world as you say or our circumstances. We as followers of Jesus have to remember we live in the world and are not of the world. Everything we do is to please our Heavenly Father who lives in us and live as his word says. Put it into our lives. Not doing what the world want us to do. Yes they may put us in corner and want us to fit I. With what they want us to do. But we have to say to ourselves would God wants us to do it. If not say sorry we can’t do it or we will not be doing it and why if they ask. They might not like is for it. But we have to keep remembering everything we do is what Jesus would want us to do. We might not get liked for saying no. But God will rewards us for doing the right thing and doing as the world want us. Especially if it not what God wants us too. To offen.I said yes to people of the world especially my family who are not saved pleasing them and doing it to keep them quiet. I not listen to God and said no to them even if they think I am being offal not doing what they want me to do. It like a Salvation Army Officer I know. She has brilliant job as nurse with good pay. God spoke to her about leaving her good paying job as Nurse. To become a Salvation Army Officer which she is today. She knows if she doesn’t get reward for obeying God and giving up her good paying Job as Nurse to work for the Lord. She will get her reward in Glory. Her Dad was not amused she left her good jib as a Nurse to become a Salvation Army Officer. Her Dad is not saved. He would think like the unsaved world would. Stay in your good paying job and don’t go to job with less money even if God is telling you to do it. God says in Philippines 4:19 I stand on that promise. It says “My God shall supply all my needs according to his riches in glory” How true that is God will supply all our needs if we trust him. Not our greeds. Especially if he has asked us to leave a good paying job especially to work him with less pay. I have found that out in my Married life. I didn’t marry my Husband for money. Because he didn’t have much them or now. He is saved too. We all through our marriage have never wanted for anything God has met all our needs through our 31 years of marriage not our greeds. We every month do as the Bible tells we tithe a tenth of pr money to God and pray for where God wants us to give it to each month. I love my life and wouldn’t change it and the we housing executive house we have bought and done up through our marriage life. Not like my family who live in bigs house and are not saved. We are thankful to God he has given us a roof over our heads and we have heat in our house and food on our table a bed to sleep. When we both look at things like this. We say we have all we need when there are people in our world homeless looking for somewhere to sleep and food. Or like people in third world countries looking for food some days they get none. Walking to get water that is not clean. We can go to our taps any time for cleaning water as well. So we are richer than people who are not saved have their big flashy life style and houses. I wouldn’t change it for all the world. I glad I am saved and so is my Husband everything we do is about living for Jesus. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little Enniskillen Co.Fermamagh N.Ireland xx
Simi,
You are beautiful. If I’m honest, I have often coveted skin like yours that has more melanin especially as I age and sun damaged along with wrinkles creep into my face. Isn’t it funny how we all try to fit in yet stand out. For me, I have to tune out the voice of the Deceiver who wants me to believe that I am not enough and listen to who my Creator says I am wonderfully made. I need more of His Word and His promises and less of the world’s emptiness. Enough about me…Just wanted to let you know how lovely I think you are and look!
Sending you New Year’s joy,
Lisa Wilt
Thanks so much Lisa! We are indeed, beautiful daughters of Christ…because everything He creates is good!