Devotional text: Luke 18:35-42 (NIV)

When hope fails life ends, but when hope perseveres than one’s perspective changes when it comes to life. Hope is the root of faith and without it we struggle to move into action. Our action may be seen as inappropriate to people around us, even annoying them along the way, but in reality without action being taken one remains in the same old place Singing the same old boring songs of life.

A blind man sitting by the roadside begging heard uproar and wondering what was happening he took the first step in a life changing event when it comes to his life. It was his moment to rise above his circumstances and with that in mind he screamed at Jesus hoping that Jesus would take notice of him and thus being filled with hope that Jesus could heal him of his blindness he screamed so loud that people around him started to rebuke him. For him it didn’t matter at that time what the people thought, for his hunger for healing became greater than any rebuke from anyone one. Experiencing this new found hope encouraged him to shout louder against the will of the people, because he hoped that Jesus would hear his cry for mercy through the noise that comes from the crowd who followed Jesus. The more the crowd rebuked him the more he was determined for Jesus to hear his plead.

Above all the noises of the people Jesus did hear his plead and stopped taking time to listen to the this man in need. Through all the noises in life that we experience as well as the reprimands from the people around us Jesus is stopping to hear and to attend to your plead. This is possible because He hears the heart of an individual in distress and therefore it doesn’t matter how much noise the world is making Jesus brings change in the lives of people one step at a time. For this man God’s time of favour has arrived and this was only possible for this man to experience, because held on to the one thing his hope in Christ, which led him to persevere in action and to rise above the noises of life. When God rewards us he rewards our hope, which led to a faith that Jesus, the One who is known among the people as a miracle worker, would bring healing to his brokenness and shame.

Jesus heals this man and reminds him that his faith has healed his situation. Screaming to God in agony brings about the fruits of one’s faith and this would not have been possible hadn’t he had the hope that Jesus would turn his attention to him.

So it doesn’t matter what the people think when you are shouting out to the Lord in times of difficulty, for He will respond to your call at the right place on the right time for he knows when the time has come that you will have that personal encounter with Jesus on the road of life and then rest assure that he knows your heart and that he has come to you inspite of the world that tries to noise out your call for he knows what your heart desire and that will not only influence your life in its personal capacity but also those around you who will see the faith, passion and desire to which you call upon the Lord in your time of need.