Faith When Feeling Desperate

Lectionary connections
October 20
Mark 10:46-52

Placing In Context

Unlike many others, Bartimaeus isn’t trying to earn God’s favor by memorizing the correct answers or unquestioningly supporting the religious authorities. Instead, he is desperate. He’s tried everything he can think of, sought out all the people who claimed to have the power to heal him and has found himself stuck, unable to move forward. When Jesus calls to him, Jesus isn’t rewarding Bartimaeus for intellectual strength. Instead, Jesus’ reaching out is all about Jesus’ seeing Bartimaeus’ seasons of disorientation and his yearning for freedom, something that’s evaded him for so long.

Beliefs that Endure

Bartimaeus’ faith is grounded in his need for home, new perspective, and belonging—things that we all long for when we’ve tried everything we can think of, and it hasn’t gotten us out of whatever hole we’ve fallen into. Getting up feels like relief when you’ve felt stuck for so long. Moving forward becomes the goal rather than reaching some destination. A life of faith includes countless unexpected benefits and blessings when we allow traveling the path to be the goal.

Moving Forward

What hole have you fallen into that has you stuck, unable to move forward? What has calling out for help looked like for you? Who are people who see you when you feel stuck and extend a hand? How is God present in those moments?