Peace for the Anxious SoulSample

Day 5

JESUS HEARS YOUR CRIES

A blind man sat begging on the side of the road. He obviously couldn’t see what was happening, but he could hear it. A large crowd was passing by. There was much commotion. Something significant was taking place in front of his sightless eyes. So, he asked what was going on. People told him, “Jesus the Nazarene was going by” (Luke 18:37, NLT).

At this, the blind man stopped his mumbled begging and shouted to the one who had become famous for miracles: “So he began shouting, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’” (Luke 18:38, NLT). The man no longer blindly pleaded for bread or money; he boldly cried out for what he really needed: mercy.

Yet what did those around him do? They shushed him: “ ‘Be quiet!’ the people in front yelled at him” (Luke 18:39, NLT). They had heard his begging day after day after day. They had become callous to his plight, dismissive of his humanity. Maybe they thought his cries would prevent them from hearing what Jesus was saying. Maybe they were worried that the dirty blind beggar would distract Jesus from the miracle they needed.

But where the crowd reacted with annoyance, Jesus responded with compassion. Jesus stopped walking and ordered for the man to be brought to him. Jesus heard the person in need, and he was eager to draw near. When the man and the Messiah came face-to-face, Jesus asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Luke 18:41, NLT).

It’s a simple question with a seemingly obvious answer for the one who lived in darkness. But Jesus asked because he wanted the man to give voice to his needs. Jesus asked this desperate soul to articulate his deep­est desire as an act of faith. And it was that faith that saved him.

Jesus invites you to cry out, to name your affliction, and to ask for what you need. He is eager to call you out of the crowd and meet you with compassion.

Inhale Truth: Jesus, I need your healing.

Exhale Trust: Jesus, I receive your mercy.

We hope you are encouraged by this reading plan. To learn more about A VERSE A DAY FOR THE ANXIOUS SOUL by Becky Keife, click here.