Lord, do you sometimes sigh?

The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, demanding of him a sign from heaven to test him.

Sighing deeply in his spirit, he said, “Why does this generation demand a sign?” (Mark 8:11-12)

Aware of this, [Jesus] said to [his disciples], “Why are you discussing the fact you have no bread?

Don’t you understand or comprehend? Do you have hardened hearts? Do you have eyes and not see; do you have ears and not hear? And do you not remember…

Don’t you understand yet?” (Mark 8:17-18, 21)

How often, Jesus, do you sigh deeply at my stubbornness, at my unbelief?

How often do you sigh deeply at my hardened heart, at my eyes that don’t see and ears that don’t hear? At my failure to remember. At my lack of understanding?

And yet, somehow, you’ve never given up on me.

As with the blind man, you keep touching my eyes until I can see. You keep touching my ears until I can hear. You keep touching my mind until I can understand. And you keep touching my heart until it softens.

Thank you for your incredible grace.