Mustard Seed Faith

Have you seen a mustard seed? They’re really small. These small seeds can produce a tree 8-9 feet tall, depending on the type of seed. This is the seed that many scholars say Jesus was talking about when He used the example of the mustard seed to illustrate faith. We tend to think our faith isn’t enough because it’s not a big faith. So, how big is your faith? I’ll confess that there are times when my faith isn’t that big. In the song “Even If” by MercyMe we find words that show us that we aren’t alone in our struggle with faith. Bart Millard sings, “They say it only takes a little faith to move a mountain, well good thing, a little faith is all I have, right now.” The size of our faith isn’t important. What we do with it is.

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, 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). Mustard seed faith can move mountains. It could literally move a mountain if it was God’s will. Think about the mountains we face throughout life. Some are big, while others are just mole hills. None the less they are struggles we must get through. Struggling with addiction is a very big mountain. Anxiety and depression are huge mountains. But Jesus is telling us that these mountains are moveable. We can move these mountains with the faith of a mustard seed. That’s all it takes. Just a little faith is all we need to start our recovery.

I was an alcoholic by the time I was 18 years of age. I drank, and drank, and drank some more. I had many broken relationships. I struggled through life because of my addiction. I manipulated people to my advantage. I wasn’t a trustworthy person. I was selfish, very selfish. But then on September 16, 1993, my mustard seed faith moved a mountain called alcoholism. With the assistance of a local pastor, now my friend, I utilized my mustard seed faith to launch into a new life in Christ Jesus. A lot of faith isn’t needed to move our mountains. We all start somewhere, and if we wait until we have sufficient faith we’ll never have enough. Remember the 8-9 foot tall mustard trees start with a very small mustard seed. Faith will grow over time. The more we trust Jesus, the bigger our faith gets.

We all start somewhere. Small steps make big differences. God doesn’t expect our faith to be big in the beginning of our walk with HIm. The longest journey begins with a single step. One small step can start the journey of a lifetime. Mustard seed faith is that tiny step that can start the journey out of addiction. If we will give our life to God as we understand HIm, we can begin a journey to wholeness. As we walk with God we will see more of who He is. We all start with mustard seed faith. If you are struggling to get out of an addiction, submit to God. Use your mustard seed faith to move your mountain called addiction.