MUSTARD SEEDS AND MOVING YOUR MOUNTAIN

Mustard seeds and a mountain, both extraordinary parts of creation, are linked together with faith in the pages of holy writing. Mustard seeds, like humankind’s skin colors, range in beautiful color variations of yellow, white, brown and black. The tiny mustard seed, only 1 to 2 millimeters (0.039 to 0.079 in) in size is commonly used as a spice.

The mustard seed’s size is remarkable because nature produces no smaller seed. They are so small; the slightest wind could rapidly move them from one end of a mountain range to another. Mountains, in contrast, stand majestically as seemingly immovable objects.

Mustard Seed-Sized Faith

Do you possess a mustard-sized seed of belief in the eternal God? If so, you can claim this holy promise, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you (Matt 17:20).” Two metaphors show up in this promise—the mustard seed representing faith and a mountain representing a problem or obstacle in your life.

If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move…

Human Abilities Fail Without God’s Power

Wow! Faith, a mustard seed-sized faith, can move a mountain. What does this mean? Jesus spoke the words of this promise to his disciples, right after they confessed to him their failure to heal a young boy. The young son suffered seizures because he was demon-possessed. The frustrated disciples asked Jesus why they could not drive the demon out of the boy. Jesus healed the boy and then explained that faith was necessary for their work. He meant that the disciples went wrong by relying on their own abilities, instead of God’s. When we seek to address a mountainous problem or obstacle in our life with faith, truly seeking and trusting in God’s direction, we can expect mountain-moving results.

Mountains Moved by Empowered Faith

Spices, like those of a mustard seed, provide flavor to food. Faith, even a minuscule mustard-sized faith, provides the avenue through which God chooses to release his power. God’s power moves mountains through the faith of his people. The pages of the Bible illuminate stories of faith and its’ effects in the lives of many men and women. These stories illustrate God’s power at work through faith to move mountains—mountains in the form of parted seas to safety, vast and powerful enemies defeated, barren women bearing children, continual physical and spiritual preservation of the faithful remnant, the good news carried to people groups across the world, and on and on.

But What if the Mountain that Needs to Move is YOU?

Ouch, this question rings true in my life. I recently realized I am my biggest obstacle! The mountain I need to move is me. Let me explain.

Two years ago, on an early March morning, I walked the length of a beach in Antiqua. I love enjoying nature as I spend time with the Lord.  As I  prayed, I clearly heard in my heart God’s call to writing. I was a bit shaken. My first love, well other than my college sweetheart and husband, is reading, not writing. The next morning during my beach walk, I found a rock shaped like a writing tool.  I picked it up and it fit just right in my hand. (I wish I could show you a picture, but airport security did not appreciate my need to bring it stateside.) That rock symbolized God’s confirmation of my call to write.

Over the next two-plus years, the Lord provided rich resources for learning the writing craft. And, not one but three published authors encouraged me to write. I need a NO EXCUSES sign over my desk.

Why have I dragged my feet, or rather, fingers as the case may be? After much soul-searching, I acknowledged that I am rooted in fear—my mountain is me. I fear I will not meet my own standards of perfectionism. Yep, my abilities may not measure up to my yardstick. Yuck.

I confessed my sin to the Lord of trusting in my own abilities instead of in his empowerment. What a relief and sweet peace to finally lay down my mountain-sized fear before the Lord. I now choose to walk in faith trusting God’s empowerment to write. Mustard seed-sized faith flourishes, not in my abilities, but in God’s power to move mountains—even when I am the mountain.

What mountain do you need to move? Is your mountain, you, because of reliance on your abilities instead of on mustard seed faith? I’d love to hear your story…