Ask For What You Want

There’s a really interesting story in the Gospel of Mark in which Jesus heals a blind man. Here’s what happened:

Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!”

Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.

The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. (Mark 10:46-52).

Put Your Wants on the Table

One thing I really like about this story is the blind man was assertive with Jesus and asked for what he wanted. I think a lot of times in our relationships (both with God and with each other), we aren’t honest about what we really want. We might expect the other person to be a mind-reader and “just know.” We don’t put our wants out on the table.

This can be a problem because most people aren’t mind-readers, and they don’t really know what we want. This can lead to us not getting our needs met. Instead of assuming the other person knows what you want, be clear and put your wants and needs on the table.

Face Opposition Head-On

Another important thing about the story is the blind man wasn’t deterred when he faced opposition. The text says many rebuked him and told him to be quiet. If the blind man worried about what other people thought of him, he might not have kept going. He might have missed his opportunity to interact with Jesus.

If there’s something you know you want, stick with it. You might face opposition or roadblocks along the way, but don’t let them deter you. Keep at it, even when you face opposition.