Even the Smallest Faith Matters

The human experience isn’t “faith or fear,” but rather one of “faith and fear.” It’s like they say about “courage.” Courage isn’t the absence of fear, but rather forging ahead and doing what you need to do despite the fear. 

Such is faith. It isn’t an absence of doubt, but rather it is finding a belief that is more powerful than the doubts, and then coming back to the belief again and again. 

In the Bible Jesus has a couple of really interesting things to say about the power of belief and faith. The first is this:
“All things are possible for one who believes.” (Mark 9:23)

The next is this:
“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)

The take-home point is this: Nothing is impossible with God. The man or woman who finds genuine faith, no matter how small, will be able to do and receive great things. 

Think about what happens in our most frightening and taxing moments of despair. We totally lose faith. We think that “nothing we do matters.” We think that “even God can’t help us.” We begin to imagine only gloom and doom and negative developments in our life. 

But when we find even the smallest hint of faith—maybe in prayer, maybe during exercise, maybe while in nature, maybe after talking to a friend, maybe after reading Scripture, maybe in the shower—then we can actually envision a different reality. We find hope, and we can actually begin to see our better future. 

When we find even the smallest hint of faith we can actually begin to feel how our efforts are positively affecting our situation. We can actually experience good and pleasant emotions, because God Himself is present in faith. 

That seems to be the implication here, in these verses and throughout Scripture. Faith is necessary to be near God, and faith is also necessary to do great things and see beautiful developments in life. 

And remember, the faith doesn’t have to be PURE or HUGE or EVER-PRESENT. I believe we can grow stronger and stronger in our faith over time, but the realities of this fallen world and of human frailty are forever trying to throw pebbles (and at times boulders) of fear and doubt at our faith and optimism.

The trick is this: Remember that a mustard seed of faith is more powerful than a meteor shower of doubt and fear.

Try to envision that comparison the next time you are assaulted by a storm of negative thoughts and contrarian doubts. If you just cling to your mustard seed of faith, then that is stronger than it all and will see you safely through the storm. 

God knows we are fragile. God knows we are wishy-washy. God knows we are anxious, and He knows we are doubting Thomases, all of us. That is perhaps why Jesus specifically talks about the power of a “mustard seed” of faith. He knows that most times (and especially in the really difficult times), that is all we can mustard (sorry, I meant muster). Just a little seed of faith. 

But that is enough. Just a little seed. 

Think about what that means for you. Your faith in healing, in your path forward, in yourself, in God’s power, doesn’t have to be as large as a planet, or an ocean, or a mountain, or a car, or a bed, or a bike, or even a magazine or envelope. 

It just has to be as big as the tiny mustard seed. With just that small measure of faith mountains can be moved, healing can happen, and the extraordinary can become a reality. 

Cling to your faith. Ask God to help it grow over time so that it continues to crowd out fear and doubt to greater and greater degrees. But for now, just cling to the mustard seed. That is your protection. That is your energy. That is your power. That is your assurance from God that you will find a way forward in His care. 

Have a blessed day,
Michael