And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. — Mark 10:48
There is something to be said for persistence. But sometimes, it can be misinterpreted by others. Many times when I read this verse, I cannot help but laugh to myself. I think of the many times after first hearing and listening to my son make noise. We could tell him to keep quiet, but he would keep going.
It wasn’t always the most pleasant noise. Sometimes, it was screaming, and at other times, it was so shrill that the hair on the back of your neck would stand up. He was determined to learn to talk and didn’t care how often we tried to keep him quiet. In church, at the store, or at home, he was going to make noise.
It wasn’t long before that persistence began to pay off. He started saying words and interacting in a whole new way. Soon, he was able to pick out his own food, tell us his favorite things, and so much more. While those loud moments may continue, he has never given up on his persistence.
In life, it can be easy to give up when we have to try in ourselves. Bartimaeus could have just given up hope sitting by the side of the road. He could have said he was going to just deal with his circumstances forever. Instead, he chose not to listen to those around him trying to silence him. He continued to call Jesus to intervene.
What would it take for you to give up on things in your life? Maybe a friend tells you to just give up. Would you? Perhaps you give in to the thoughts that your situation is annoying or too small to God. That’s not true. No matter what it is, God cares.
Challenging circumstances are not a reason to give up. Instead, stay persistent. It may not happen today, but one day, it will be your day. But you can’t give up before that day arrives. Even if you can’t see what’s in front of you, trust and remain persistent that God can handle it all.
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