Matthew 17:20 -So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

Jesus told His disciples that if they had faith as small as a mustard seed, they could move mountains. A mustard seed would have been one of the smallest seeds that the followers of Jesus would have seen at that time.

How could something so small move something so great?  That is the power of Jesus Christ. Jesus often compared the Kingdom of God to things that seemed small but have a great impact – a pearl (Matthew 13:45-46), yeast/leaven (Matthew 13:33), and indeed again, a mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32). These are small things that have monumental impact. A pearl, whilst small, is one the most precious minerals in the world. Yeast, whilst unsavoury on its own, can turn a pile of flour into rich and great bread. And even though a mustard seed is a tiny seed, mustard trees are amongst the strongest and largest trees out there.

What does this tell us? No matter where your faith starts, it has room to grow.

Faith in Jesus Christ for any individual may not start off big. Some people see a miracle and instantly get a great faith (John 2:23). Some people see a force of nature and seek its Creator. Some people have a conversation and decide to see what God is about, leading to faith. No matter how your faith began, its growth, like a seed when nurtured, is inevitable.

I think often times people wait to gain a lot of faith before they pray or approach God or even call themselves a Christian. Beloved, there is no height requirement to this ride with Christ, you just need to get on board. The way to get on board is through belief, through faith. Whether there is a lot or a little, if you believe in Jesus, if you have faith in God, God is pleased (Hebrews 11:6).

Consider Sarah in the Bible. This was an elderly woman who had wanted a child for a long time but did not become pregnant until her old age (Genesis 18:11, Genesis 21:1-5). This was a miracle but the lead up to that time had been filled with signs from God. Angels of the Lord literally went to Abraham’s house and told him that Sarah would become pregnant (Genesis 18:1-15). She laughed it off at the time thinking such a thing would be impossible (Genesis 15:10-15). But God. A year later she was pregnant (Genesis 21:1). The Bible says in Hebrews that because of faith, Sarah was able to have a child; she believed in God to do what He promised (Hebrews 11:11). The access point to God is faith, and with that faith comes faith that God is able, God is worthy, God is real, and God is love.

When Jesus asks us to have faith as small as a mustard seed, He is not asking us to hoard some doubt alongside our belief, He is asking us to put trust in God (Mark 11:22-24). No matter how small or insignificant it may seem to you, take the faith you have and offer it up to God.

When Jesus was preaching to thousands and afterwards wanted to offer them food to eat, the disciples were at a loss as to how they could feed the at least 5000 people that were in the crowd (Mark 6:34-37). A little boy offered his meal of five loaves and two fish to help (John 6:9). Jesus multiplied this and there was enough food for the 5000 people plus their families to eat to their satisfaction, and even food enough to fill 12 baskets afterwards (Matthew 14:18-21)! God multiplies what we offer! If we only have what seems like a little bit of faith right now, let’s put that in God and allow Him to multiply it. Do not think that your faith is too small for God to do anything with. He is the great God and He can make what seems like nothing into something so great.

A shepherd boy became King (1 Samuel 16:10-13). A fugitive became a nation’s leader (Exodus 2:11-15; Exodus 3:10). A slave became a Prime Minister (Genesis 37:27; 41:41-43). A formerly demon-possessed woman became a follower of Jesus (Luke 8:2-3). A formerly mentally ill man became an evangelist (Mark 5:1-20). A former murder became an Apostle of Christ (Acts 9:1-6). What you had and what you have does not determine where you are going. Whether your faith seems small to you, as long as it is faith in God, it pleases Him. He delights in seeing you believe because it shows that you trust Him.

God is our Father and as the Good Father that He is, if He says He is going to do something, He will. It must give so much joy to Him to see us believing. He is not angry that you have faith the size of a mustard seed because that can move mountains. Offer what you have and let God multiply it. Offer that mustard seed faith for the healing, for the salvation of a loved one,  for your nation – take it to God. Give that faith to God and allow Him to multiply it and make something great.

Mustard seeds grow into great trees. Let your faith, no matter how small right now, grow into something great. Nurture it like you would any seed. Give it life and water through studying God’s word. As you see how God has moved mountains, seas, and valleys for people in the Bible, you will grow in believing that God can do it for you too. Meditate on how God has done miracles for you in the past. As you express gratitude for what He has done, you remind yourself of His faithfulness and this nurtures that faith-seed to develop. Fellowship with other believers and listen to what they have seen God do and how their hearts have grown closer to God. This will stir up your heart to keep having faith in Him.

Faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. If your faith seems as small as a mountain seed, there are mountains that can be moved because your faith is in the Lord.

With love,

Faith