Little Faith

A mustard seed

I have a confession.  Sometimes I don't want to blog because I don't feel like I have anything to offer.  My pride wants me to be known as someone who posts wise, uplifting blog entries that make readers question, think, and grow closer to God.  When I haven't got a topic, or a verse, or a catchy "hook," I feel that surely my post can't resonate with or teach anyone.

Today is one of those days.  I've scoured scripture, read Jesus Calling, listened to praise music all morning, etc... not as a way to touch base with God, to lean into Him and trust fully in Him... but rather to find something, anything, to write about.

Instead, I've come up empty.  Not entirely, of course.  I've had a spectacular morning- I just haven't stumbled upon anything to write about.  In the back of my mind I can just hear the words of my pastor this past Sunday- "You always try to figure things out, to do things independently of God.  Only when you have nothing left, when you've exhausted your very last resource, only then do you collapse before God and whisper, 'Help me...'"

It's funny the way we humans operate sometimes, isn't it?  We are so small, and yet we try to be so big.  On our own, we simply can't.  We can't be the best at our jobs, we can't be the best daughter or son or wife or husband or mother or father, we can't be the best friend.  But that doesn't stop us from trying again and again and again.  And failing again and again and again. 

Why do we do it?  Why do I try to succeed on my own, only to fail over and over?  

I think it's because I, we, are doubtful.  We're skeptical of how big God really can be.  We make God a small "g" god.  He's great and I love Him sure, but he just can't handle everything that's on my plate, so I'll take care of my own business, thankyouverymuch.  Or maybe I'll say that I'm leaving a situation or a relationship in his hands, but I'll secretly have a back-up plan, just in case God's plan falls through. 

Our Father invites us to have little faith.  That seems crazy to me.  Having just a wee bit of faith doesn't seem like enough.  Our pastor asked the congregation Sunday evening to raise our hands if we had the very least bit of faith, if we thought we had the least amount of faith of anyone in the sanctuary.  I could see many congregants looking around warily... "should I put my hand up?  What if no one else raises his/her hand?  Will I look like an idiot?  I surely have more faith than at least one other person in here, right?"  Even when asked a simple question about our faith, we are filled to the brim with doubts.

In chapter 17 of Luke, Jesus says this:
"If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you."

With the tiniest of tiny amounts of faith, we can do incredible things.  Move a mulberry tree, move a mountain, heal disease, banish demons, overcome a tough job, praise Him through a rough season, find joy after the loss of a loved one.  A mustard seed is miniscule, and yet, God works with that.  Why?  Because it's not us who needs to be strong.  It's Him.  It's all Him.  When we come before Him with just a little bit of faith, He is able to work.  He is able to carry us the rest of the way.  

He is God, the Almighty, the Most High, Creator of the Universe.  He is bigger than our faith will ever be.  He can do more than we can even imagine.  Our role?  Simple.  Fall into Him.  Collapse, and He will do the hard work.