We all experience dark days of the soul. The unpromising storms of life, which bellow at us externally and internally, create unrest. We pray and pray some more, yet at times, it seems as though those prayers hit the ceiling with a thud. We might even scold our self, saying, we don’t have enough faith. Uncertainty and defeat climb on us like clinging vines oppressing any faith and hope we think we might own. At least that is the way dark days feel.
For some, the struggle to get out of bed takes more energy and faith then they can muster. Have you been there? I have. I’ve been in dark days in which I felt there would be no end to the sorrow. Days where the clinging vines wrapped around me so hard, I felt my breath escape.
Jesus told his disciples, “I tell you the truth, 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. Nothing will be impossible for you,” (Matthew 17:20).
A mustard seed is only 1 or 2 mm in diameter. That’s a little seed. One day, when upheaval kept blowing my way, I thought about this fact and this promise. Our son, Jason, had been arrested and pleaded his innocence. “Mom, really I didn’t do this. I’m being set-up.” My heart-of-hearts wanted to believe he was telling the truth. But here my son was in jail, again. What and who was I to believe. The detective, in a conversation said, “You ought to forget about your son.” Those words hit like a flaming arrow. Forget about my son—those were fighting words to this mother. My intuitive radar kicked in and I knew something unethical was lurking behind the blinds.
Anxiety crushed my soul like a zillion ton of bricks. I was helpless. Jason’s fate was out of my control (as I know it never was in my control!). Even though, l began to think about a little verse tucked away in the crevices of my heart, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed.” And suddenly, like an ocean wave that surprises you, I thought Hey faith as small as a mustard seed! I have faith as small as a mustard seed, so I began to pray, “I’ve been a Christian for over thirty years Lord, not that I need to remind you, and I know you are the Almighty God, I know you can do mighty things. I’m positive I have faith as small as a mustard seed. And you say if I have that much faith, I can move mountains. Lord, there is a mountain bigger than life staring my son in the face. I know, Lord he is probably guilty of other actions, aren’t we all guilty of something; however, I believe God he is telling the truth. So God, I invoke my mustard seed faith in the truth of your promise and I say to this mountain be gone. Let truth triumph over falsehood.” And that was that, I waited with the patients of a hungry lion.
Several months, after praying my mustard seed prayer, Jason was released from County Jail with all charges dropped. He said, “You know mom, it’s okay I was in jail—there’s lots of things I’ve done that I’ve never gotten caught for, and God wanted me there. I started a bible study and led someone to the Lord. For that, it was all worth it.”
Is there a mountain shadowing your days of joy? Then I encourage you to cry, scream, and yell and when you’ve exhausted yourself and there is no more left of you, then pull on your combat boots and prepare to fight. Invoke your faith, small as it is, knowing that Jesus is not a liar, “I tell you the truth,” he says, “if you have faith as small as a mustard seed,” and I’m sure you do, “you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you,” (Matthew 17:20).
The apostle Paul said, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen,” (Ephesians 3:20-21).
When you put into motion your mustard seed faith, remember it is “his **[God’s] power that is at work within us [you].” I’m neither into formulas nor putting faith in faith, or believing we have to muster mounds of faith to move God to action. Honest, childlike faith, even as small as a mustard seed, will move God on your behalf—he is our burden bearer, “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you,” (1 Peter 5:7 NKJV).
What are you waiting for—go plant that mustard seed of faith in the soil of prayer and watch the Can Do God come to your aid in his perfect time.
*I used Jason’s story with his permission, in case you were wondering. **Brackets inserted for clarity.
Have a reply about faith, a story to share, please don’t be shy!
From my Heart to Yours 