A faith that refuses to give up!

Reflecting on Mark 10:46-52

"Your faith has healed you." (Mark 10:52)

Bartimaeus was persistent, despite being rebuked.
His desperate hope in Jesus was greater than the discouragement of others.
He did not let the crowds (the majority) take his eyes off Jesus.
Their rebuke only intensified his desperate prayer.
It was this desperate faith that Jesus is talking about.

This is the kind of faith that I want.
As I consider the mess and misery of our world around us…
As I am frustrated or discouraged by the people surrounding Jesus…
As I am hindered by my own blindness, and the blindness of others…
Despite all of this, I shout (pray) all the more (Mark 10:48).

I admit that I am often discouraged by what I see (or don’t see) around me.
Life in this world, even in the church, seems to hold me down.
My own blindness (weakness, limitations, failures) cripples me too.
It is hard for me to hold on to faith, hope and love through it all.

But so far none of this has led me to lose my faith.
It only makes me more desperate and eager for hope and love.
My faith, hope and love are not just for me.
It is for the billions and billions of people who struggle and suffer.
I refuse to give up, because giving up is what Satan wants for me.

In the midst of all the chaos and noise and misery, Jesus is calling me.
Despite the discouragement of churches in crisis and conflict, Jesus is calling me.
Sadly I see many people giving up on Jesus because of these.
Because the church rebukes and silences them, they stop reaching for Jesus.
Because their struggles in the world hinder them, they give up hoping.
And life without hope is no life at all.

I often meet people who are discouraged, defeated or despairing.
I can say to them, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” (Mark 10:49)
While christians may be silencing them, Jesus wants them to speak out.
If they’ve given up on church and religion, I urge them to not give up on Jesus.
Jesus welcomes you, even if His followers don’t.

Today I am feeling the burden of discouragement.
The wind and the waves seem greater than the One walking on them.
This reading is compelling me to cheer up, get up, and listen to Jesus.
I am compelled to not give up faith, or hope, or love.
Jesus pushed through the misery and curse of sin and death, and overcame.
His love won, and He opened the way to hope for everyone.
This is not over, evil has not won, darkness will not overcome the light.

The faith that heals is not a creed we confess, or a belief without doubt.
I am not confident in the creeds, and I certainly do have doubts.
But I refuse to give up on Jesus and what He represents.
Jesus is God with us, Jesus is God for us, Jesus is calling to us.
I am not fully healed yet, I am still blind in many ways.
But one day I will hear – and you will too – Jesus say:
“Go, your faith has healed you. (Mark 10:52)
Until that day, I will follow Jesus along the way.
I will shout, and keep on shouting, “have mercy on us!”
Because one day, even if others do not, He will have mercy on us!

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, I refuse to be silenced. I refuse to be discouraged. I refuse to stop shouting, I will shout all the more: "have mercy!!!" Satan wants me to give up; I will not. My faith, as weak as it is, will cling to You. Because You are calling, You are listening, You will heal. Use me to cheer others up with this hope!