If you are genuinely seeking God but haven't yet received the blessing you long for, take comfort from this story. The Savior did not immediately give this woman what she asked for, even though she had great faith in him. He intended to bless her, but he waited. "He answered her not a word."

Were her prayers not good enough? Never better in all the world! Was her case not needy enough? Sorrowfully needy! Did she not feel her need deeply enough? She felt it overwhelmingly! Was she not earnest enough? She was intensely so! Did she lack faith? She had such a high degree of it that even Jesus marveled and said, "O woman, great is your faith!"

So see this clearly: though it is true that faith brings peace, it does not always bring it instantly. There may be reasons calling for the trial of faith rather than the reward of faith. Genuine faith may be in your soul like a hidden seed, but as yet it may not have budded and blossomed into joy and peace.

The painful silence from the Savior is a grievous trial for many seeking souls. But heavier still is the affliction of a harsh, cutting reply like this: "It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to dogs." Many who wait upon the Lord find immediate delight—but this is not the case with all. Some, like the jailer, are in a moment turned from darkness to light. But others are plants of slower growth.

You may be given a deeper sense of sin instead of the sense of pardon you crave. In such a case, you will need patience to bear the heavy blow.

Ah! poor heart—though Christ beat and bruise you, or even slay you, trust him! Though he should give you an angry word, believe in the love of his heart! I beseech you, do not give up seeking or trusting my Master because you have not yet obtained the conscious joy you long for. Cast yourself on him, and perseveringly depend even where you cannot rejoicingly hope.