Willing to Risk It

New can be scary, but what have we got to lose? Bartimaeus teaches us to be bold and let Jesus know what we want. He might surprise us with what He does!

A new platform, new audience, new adventure….it’s amazing the stress a shift can cause. I’ve watched this Substack space for a while, but who wants to go to a new space and start over?

Like the saying goes, “It’s easier to deal with the monsters we know than the monsters we don’t know.”

Which got me thinking...How many things in my life do I need to change, but I’ve held on to them for far too long simply because they’re comfortable to me? 😬

So this past week I started to take account of thing in my life. Lists and plans, dreams, and desires. What do I really want? And what am I holding on to simply because moving on is foreign to me?

I began to think about the blind man Jesus healed in Mark 10:46-52. Bartimaeus had been outside the city, begging, and unable to see that Jesus was leaving the city and heading toward Jerusalem, but he heard the crowds rumbling with commotion.

Bartimaeus screamed out for Jesus, but the crowds tried to hush him and dismiss him, yet he pressed on all the more. He had nothing to lose, a change couldn’t be worse. Afterall, if he did nothing, then he would still be blind, but if he made a change, maybe the new would be better. 🤷🏻‍♀️

The words of Jesus in Mark 10:51 are some that have stuck with me for years. Jesus asked Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?”

I’ll be the first to admit that I didn’t expect that from Jesus. He’s Jesus, He knows what people want. Besides, Bartimaeus was blind, everyone knew what he wanted, he wanted to see.

But there’s something about saying it. Something about telling God exactly what’s on our hearts and minds. Something powerful happens when we confess it out loud to God.

So this week, I said the things. I told God what I wanted. I shared the fears. Surrendered the struggles and emotions, and I told Him I don’t want to just be comfortable anymore, I want to be bold like Bartimaeus. Willing to endure the chaos and challenge for a fresh vision and a touch from Jesus.

You see, the other thing I realized is that Bartimaeus could have stayed on the sidelines and continued on with the life of blindness he knew. Begging and waiting and being led around. He knew that life and up until that point it had worked for him...but he wanted more, and he was willing to make the change.

Jesus was willing, but he wasn’t waiting around for Bartimaeus, He was on mission to get to Jerusalem. Jesus didn’t seek Bartimaeus out...but, when Bartimaeus asked, Jesus responded immediately...and the result–vision for Bartimaeus and a new follower for Jesus.

Friend, what change do we need to make in our lives to move to the next thing God will grant us?

How long will we sit in the “monsters we know” because we aren’t willing to step into the grace waiting for us?

Time and time again, the stories of Scripture show the compassionate love and tender mercy of our God. He’s waiting for us to move, He’s already moved toward us, now we must respond. We must follow Him.

The thing is, Satan can get us all wound up in worry about the work of passing through the middle parts...the clamoring and push back from the crowds, or the fear and confusion about all the work that the middle part of a shift can cause...but the truth is the outcome is worth the work.

I certainly didn’t enjoy the middle parts of shifting over here to this new platform, it was work. Lots of work. There were problems and pushback, but in the end there was growth, clear vision and a way forward.

Bartimaeus didn’t enjoy the shushing and push back, but the outcome was worth it.

Don’t get caught up in the mess of the middle. Don’t stare at the space of the unknown...it’s the space where God meets us in anyway, and the outcome of the work is worth it...because God’s in it with us!

Father, help me to take an honest look at my mind and heart. Help me to let go of the things You don’t want for me. Give me clarity of vision to see Your will for my life, and help me move past the pushback of the enemy and move forward toward what You have for me. Help me confess my heart to You, for You already know it anyway. In the name of Jesus and by the power of the Spirit I pray, Amen.

In His Grace,