Thank You O Lord for the blessings…and also for the trials!

“Although I know how dreadful my shackles of sin are, I hide behind them with a noble appearance from all who might see.  I appear to be robed in the beautiful clothes of reverence, but my soul is entangled with shameful thoughts.  Before all who might see, I am reverent, but inside, I am filled with all manner of indecency.”

What we read today, shows us something vitally important about how to approach prayer with God.  Every time we enter into prayer with God, especially if we are asking for something, we should always expect nothing…but hope for everything.    

When the tzar and his family were under house arrest, the government would make it a point to send the most hateful and harshest of guards to keep watch on the family.  Despite the vitriol that was spilled out against them; the tzar, his wife and children, always responded with meekness, kindness, and humility.  After some time, those virtues would eventually win over the guards, and many became sympathetic and friendly to the plight of the royals. 

We certainly have our own spiritual battles that we wage…but imagine the increased spiritual warfare that Bartimeaus had to endure.  Anxiety over who would take care of him from day to day.  No doubt there might have been days where he was angry at God for his situation. Depression,  fear…perhaps even at times a lack of faith.