“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “My Rabbi,” Bartimaeus said, “I want to see!” And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.

Mark 10:51-52 (NLT)

 

The story of Jesus healing blind Bartimaeus reveals a profound lesson about unwavering faith. It is a faith that never gives up, even when a small voice tells you to stop. When people were shushing him and becoming irritated by his constant shouting, Bartimaeus turned up the “volume” of his faith.

Unwavering faith comes from a genuine knowledge of who God is and what He can do. When Bartimaeus cried out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me," he recognised our Lord as the long-awaited Messiah, who fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies. His shouting was more than just an attempt to draw Jesus' attention. It was his confession of faith. When we have faith in God, we can believe that He hears our prayers.

I'm not sure about you, but when I pray, I find myself contending with other voices that say, "You have prayed long enough, give up!"; "God isn't hearing you" and "Don't expect God to answer this sort of prayer". However, I have learned to press on—because the Apostle Paul tells us:

Don’t be weary in prayer; keep at it; watch for God’s answers and remember to be thankful when they come.

Colossians 4:2(NLT)

 

Prayer releases faith and faith pleases God. This means the more we pray, the more restful we become and the more restful we are, the more fruitful we become. In other words, prayer puts us in a position to open our hearts and receive the wonder of God's grace.

What is God saying to me here and what must I do?