4. It's OK to be sad when we aren't where we want to be, however, happiness is based on circumstances and joy is based on our relationship with Christ.
Based on the men who told Bartimaeus to rise to his feet and cheer up, Bartimaeus must have been sad. I mean, wouldn't you be, too? When you spin (stay in the same place in life and never change), it can bring sadness in your life, even depression. I am sure Bartimaeus must have felt both.

We need to understand that true happiness (joy) is from our relationship with Christ. That it is OK to feel sad sometimes; even Jesus felt sadness, but this is based on our situation and not what's inside. Yes, Bartimaeus should have been cheerful as Jesus was asking for him, however, when you are stuck (spinning), you get so used to that life that joy seems to be unreachable. We do need reminders that Christ brings us the joy. Joy based on our relationship with Him.

Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
— Mark 10:49-50

5. When Jesus calls us to do things, we must not only be ready but excited because of what is coming.
Have you ever been in a situation where God is calling you to do something outside your comfort zone? Maybe it's talking to someone about your faith, teaching a Sunday school class, or going on a missions trip. You kind of just freeze up. "Oh God, I can't do that ... I don't know how to do that." Well, God says yes! He will equip us. We need to remember that God is still in control. He knows everything about us. He knows what we can handle and what we can't. He wants us to rely on Him and His guidance, His training, and His provision.

Yes, being stretched is hard sometimes. There is a huge amount of fear, but like Bartimaeus there can also be a huge amount of joy. It can take us places we never could have imagined on our own.

May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
— Hebrews 13:20-22

6. We need to be clear about what we want from God.
I used to ask God for all kinds of things, all the time. "Oh Lord, please bring me this special person" or "God, I want a new car so badly" or "God, please help me get along with my brother." What I need to be asking for is for God's will, whichever way it turns out. Just asking God for someone special could be a personal disaster in my life. I had one of those and yes, he was special but was living a double life. Oh and yes, I could use a new car but I can't afford the payments. So, I could have gotten a little more specific and said, “God, I want a new car and no payments” (which could happen). It’s just that getting a new car doesn't fix things. I could go into huge debt. Then, asking the Lord to get along with my brother wasn't going to solve the real issues that we have. The prayer needed to be for him to know Jesus. If he could know Jesus, in time, God would bring us together.