Cry Out Anyway
“And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more…”
— Mark 10:47–48 (NKJV)
REFLECTION
Bartimaeus could not see Jesus, but he heard that Jesus was passing by. That was enough. He began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Then the crowd told him to be quiet.
They could see what Bartimaeus could not see, yet somehow they failed to see what Bartimaeus saw by faith: Jesus was near, and this might be his moment.
So Bartimaeus did not become quieter.
He cried out all the more.
Persistent prayer sometimes requires us to pray beyond the voices telling us to stop. Those voices may come from other people, from disappointment, from delay, or even from within: You have prayed about this long enough. Nothing has changed. Why keep asking?
Bartimaeus teaches us another way.
When others said, “Be quiet,” he cried louder. When the crowd tried to silence him, his desperation became determination. He refused to allow anyone to keep him from calling on Jesus.
And Jesus stopped.
There is something powerful in those words. In the middle of the crowd, with people pressing around Him and a journey before Him, Jesus stopped for one man who refused to stop crying out.
Perhaps you have been praying for something for a long time. Perhaps discouragement has begun whispering that you should simply accept things as they are.
Bartimaeus would say:
Cry out anyway.
PRAYER
Lord, when discouragement tells me to be quiet, give me the faith to cry out all the more. When others do not understand my persistence, help me to keep calling on You. When the answer seems delayed and I am tempted to give up, remind me that You hear my voice. Like Bartimaeus, may I refuse to allow the crowd, my circumstances, or my disappointment to silence my faith. Give me the courage to cry out anyway—and to keep crying out until You answer. Amen..
JOURNAL PROMPT
What voice has been telling you to stop praying? What would it look like for you to follow Bartimaeus’ example and cry out all the more?