Persistent

…continuing firmly or obstinately in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.^*

I find that Christian belief is unpopular in my culture. Believing Jesus and the Bible is often considered foolish, or simplistic or a crutch (for the weak). Although it is legal in the United States to believe in Jesus, it is counter-cultural.  What about your culture?  

I am encouraged by a story from the Bible.  The blind man, Bartimeus, wanted Jesus to give him his sight.  He called out to Jesus, but the people of his community told him to be quiet.^** Bartimeus cared more about meeting Jesus than he did about pleasing those around him.

When people told him to be quiet he shouted all the more!  He didn’t stop. He didn’t slow down. He shouted more fervently…maybe louder, certainly with more forcefulness. He persisted!

I love this!  My faith in God is so much more important than living by the rules of my neighbors. I pray, “May what my neighbors think about my faith mean so little to me that I keep calling to you in my need.”

…but he shouted all the more.^***

^* Definition taken from google dictionary

^** This story is in the Bible, Luke 18:35-43 and Mark 10:46-52

^*** Mark 10:48