Strong Willed Woman by Deborah Horack

Hello everyone! This month I am writing something that I hope will help parents whose child or children are addicted to drugs or alcohol. I have battled my son's drug problem for years. I am hoping what God has revealed to me is some form of hope for other parents. I know the article is entitled Strong Willed Woman but I know there are many father's out there that also need comfort. So please read this and put your hope in God for your child's future and let God's peace be yours.
   From Mark 7: 24-26, The woman was greek and born in Syria. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. "First let the children eat all they want, Jesus told her." "For it is not right to take the children's bread & toss it to the dogs." "Yes Lord but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." Jesus answered "Woman you have great faith your request is granted." And at that very moment her daughter was healed.
As my child has been battling drugs over the years I have read this passage many times. I really enjoyed it for 2 reasons. The reason was, I felt what this woman felt. If Jesus was here I would have stopped at nothing just to get to Him and beg. I'm sure this woman would have done anything to have her child healed. She was strong willed, determined, and had great faith. She knew if she could just reach Him, He would heal her daughter. I feel she was blessed more than she realized. Her daughter was healed, but Jesus commended her strong faith. Jesus was pleased. He saw how strong she was. As a parent of today's world we do not have the pleasure of Jesus walking this earth, but we do have Jesus. His spirit is within each one of us. I had to be strong willed with my son. There were so many days I was on my knees pleading with God to heal him. I was not giving up.

Even when things are at their worst my faith will only grow stronger. I would remind God of his promises I was reading daily in the bible. When a woman's child is in danger she seems to have the ability, strength, and courage to do what needs to be done. But as her child grows to be an adult that is when her faith comes in. Can she let go of the child that she gave birth too? Can this strong willed woman give her child to God? Does she know there is someone who can take better care of her child than she can? There's a point, I think, in every mother that wants to hold on as long as she can. That is when you put your faith in God and rely on Him. This is the second part of the scripture that I like. Jesus commended her faith and healed her child. I want God to be pleased with my faith in Him. I want God to know that even though my son is not yet healed, I believe he will be. So, until then, I will be a strong willed woman of faith and believe in the power of God's healing. Whether it be tomorrow, a month or years, because I know in the mean while he wants to teach something by passing me through these hard times to persevere. I know one day God will command.
my faith and say "Woman you have great faith."
  I pray now for God's healing in all our children's lives that suffer from addictions. Lord Jesus heal our children. We ask this in Jesus name. Thank you Father for your healing power, Amen!!
  Thank you all and God bless you always
    Love Debi