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Faith as Huge as a Mustard Seed
http://www.faithtowrite.com/articles/Faith-as-Huge-as-a-Mustard-Seed/227-1.html
Carissa Dimjasovics
 
By Carissa Dimjasovics
Published on 09-Feb-09
 
“’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 “’Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!’ ‘Have faith in God,’ Jesus answered. ‘I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go throw yourself into the sea’, and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.’” Mark 11:21-23 I think we’ve all thought at one point or another “well surely I have faith as big as a little seed, for heaven’s sake. Thanks goodness for that rather low standard on Jesus’ part!” Unfortunately, as I have grown in experience, I have had to come to the conclusion that that seed might as well be the size of the Milky Way for all the true faith I can muster up most of the time.
Faith as Huge as a Mustard Seed
  I distinctly remember praying one evening several years ago, and getting the hiccups in the middle of my prayer. As my subsequent annoyance grew, I finally blurted out “Lord, can you please get rid of these hiccups??” Immediately they were gone. And my reaction was what? Thanks, now let’s continue? Nope. Similar to the disciples, it was complete surprise and amazement, followed closely by doubt. Wow, was that really God? Did He actually cure my hiccups just because I asked Him to? He’s really listening to me? Was that a coincidence? Does He even care about things like hiccups? Just like when Jesus rather off-handedly cursed a fig tree, and the disciples were amazed when it actually died. “Wow, look at that Lord! It actually worked!!”

Jesus felt their reaction betrayed a lack of faith, which of course it did. So does mine. In fact, I think anytime God answers a prayer I am always at least a little bit surprised. It should be the other way around. If I pray diligently and get no reply, I should be utterly in shock. Jesus’ comments on people’s lack of faith are frequent in the Bible. “O unbelieving and perverse generation…how long shall I put up with you?” (Matthew 17:17) is a common type of refrain. He was frustrated often, even with the disciples who seemed constantly surprised at His powers and couldn’t cast out demons on their own. Their faith seemed to come after His death, once they had seen Him risen with their own eyes. Oh to have that luxury, and then maybe I, too, would really, truly believe without a doubt. (How very “Thomas” of me!)

Now, to be clear, I don’t think God is a genie who will do anything we ask, nor do I think He even wants us moving His mountains around all over the place. Praying within God’s will is crucial.I think Jesus’ point was that it was so difficult for people to have real, solid, unwavering belief that He felt the mountains were pretty safe where they were. He was also pointing out the power and importance of faith, if we could possibly manage to have some.

The fact that I lack even a seed’s worth of faith is a very sobering and humbling realization. But if I am perfectly honest about reviewing my prayers, I realize I have thrown some up in desperation, done many mechanically, begged and pleaded, gotten angry, prayed about things I really didn’t care much about at all, offered some suggestions, or turned to God because I didn’t really have a better idea…but rarely, rarely have I ever prayed anything with complete and total conviction, whereby I would have been amazed had God not honoured it. “I do believe…help me overcome my unbelief”(Mark 9:24) remains my ongoing plea.
Faith as Huge as a Mustard Seed

I distinctly remember praying one evening several years ago, and getting the hiccups in the middle of my prayer. As my subsequent annoyance grew, I finally blurted out “Lord, can you please get rid of these hiccups??” Immediately they were gone. And my reaction was what? Thanks, now let’s continue? Nope. Similar to the disciples, it was complete surprise and amazement, followed closely by doubt. Wow, was that really God? Did He actually cure my hiccups just because I asked Him to? He’s really listening to me? Was that a coincidence? Does He even care about things like hiccups? Just like when Jesus rather off-handedly cursed a fig tree, and the disciples were amazed when it actually died. “Wow, look at that Lord! It actually worked!!”

Jesus felt their reaction betrayed a lack of faith, which of course it did. So does mine. In fact, I think anytime God answers a prayer I am always at least a little bit surprised. It should be the other way around. If I pray diligently and get no reply, I should be utterly in shock. Jesus’ comments on people’s lack of faith are frequent in the Bible. “O unbelieving and perverse generation…how long shall I put up with you?” (Matthew 17:17) is a common type of refrain. He was frustrated often, even with the disciples who seemed constantly surprised at His powers and couldn’t cast out demons on their own. Their faith seemed to come after His death, once they had seen Him risen with their own eyes. Oh to have that luxury, and then maybe I, too, would really, truly believe without a doubt. (How very “Thomas” of me!)

Now, to be clear, I don’t think God is a genie who will do anything we ask, nor do I think He even wants us moving His mountains around all over the place. Praying within God’s will is crucial.I think Jesus’ point was that it was so difficult for people to have real, solid, unwavering belief that He felt the mountains were pretty safe where they were. He was also pointing out the power and importance of faith, if we could possibly manage to have some.

The fact that I lack even a seed’s worth of faith is a very sobering and humbling realization. But if I am perfectly honest about reviewing my prayers, I realize I have thrown some up in desperation, done many mechanically, begged and pleaded, gotten angry, prayed about things I really didn’t care much about at all, offered some suggestions, or turned to God because I didn’t really have a better idea…but rarely, rarely have I ever prayed anything with complete and total conviction, whereby I would have been amazed had God not honoured it. “I do believe…help me overcome my unbelief”(Mark 9:24) remains my ongoing plea.