Why is faith important for receiving mercy from God?

In Luke 18:42-43, after Bartimaeus expresses his need for sight, Jesus states, 'Thy faith hath saved thee.' This underscores that faith is a necessary response to the mercy offered by God. It is through faith that we acknowledge our spiritual poverty and reliance on His grace. Ephesians 2:8 further elucidates this point: 'For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.' This means that while salvation is entirely a work of God's grace, faith is the means by which we receive that grace and mercy. Therefore, faith is not simply intellectual agreement but a profound trust in God's ability and willingness to save.