I’m reminded of the story of blind Bartimaeus (cf. Mark10:46-52 KJV). Bartimaeus sat by the wayside begging. But the seed of faith in his heart was not a wayside seed, nor did he have a wayside faith. He believed with all his heart that Jesus could heal and restore his sight. “And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, Jesus thou Son of David, have mercy on me,” (Mark 10:47 KJV).

 
He knew Jesus our Savior was a merciful and forgiving Savior, but many from the crowd told him to stop crying out to Jesus. In response he cried out even more to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Mark 10:48 KJV).

When others tell us to stop praying or calling upon our Lord to heal us or to fix a situation in our lives, do we listen to those external voices, or do we listen to that still quiet voice within us? When others tell us God can't help us with that situation, we must believe the words of Jesus Christ, who said: “…With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible,” (Mark 10:27 KJV). Bartimaeus didn't stop crying out to Jesus until Jesus responded back to him (Mark 10:49 KJV). He was persistent in his faith. We must be persistent in our faith and prayer life. We must not give up or lose hope if God does not respond the first or second time we cry out to him for help.

The blind man may have sat by the wayside begging, but he didn't have a wayside faith. He had great faith in someone he could see spiritually. He may have been physically blind, but he could see clearly the heart of Christ. “And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus in the way,” (Mark 10:52 KJV).

Father God, I pray that we continue to be persistent in our faith.