Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Faith As Small As A Mustard Seed

One day the apostles said to the Lord, “We need more faith; tell us how to get it.” -- Luke 17:5

Have you ever had one of those days? Of course you have. Everybody does. The world seems to be crashing down around you, pulling you in a zillion different directions, and you really don’t know which way to go or what to do. It’s called life.

I know things will all work out and everything will be okay. I know that. Then why do I sometimes panic? Why do I worry? Why do I doubt? God has promised to be with me and care for me. It really will turn out just fine.

Except when it doesn’t. That’s the nagging seed that eats away at me. I know that horrible things can happen with no warning. I know that you can do everything right and still end up lost and alone. And I know how easily dreams shatter and life changes.

I realize God is with me. He never leaves me alone to fend for myself. That gives me comfort. And while I certainly know He is all-powerful and in control, I also realize that He gave humans free will. That’s scary. Because just as I make mistakes every day, so does everyone else. And sometimes those mistakes have devastating consequences.

I probably worry for nothing. Why borrow trouble, as the old cliché goes? Just take one day as it comes and deal with it. Then face tomorrow when the alarm clock shatters the early morning silence.

Faith doesn’t have to be big to be real. It can be as small as a mustard seed.

“Even if you had faith as small as a mustard seed,” the Lord answered, “you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May God uproot you and throw you into the sea,’ and it would obey you!” -- Luke 17:6

So I cling to that just as I once clung to a gold necklace that carried a mustard seed in a small enclosure. It had a little metal piece attached that said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, nothing shall be impossible unto you.” I wore it every day for many, many years until one day it broke and the mustard seed fell out. Sort of like my faith on days when I can’t see the hope I know is really there.

But I cling to those words and the promise of Jesus. I know that I will have strength for this day. And tomorrow, well, tomorrow will bring whatever it will bring. And I will have strength for it as well. And if I don’t? Well, God will carry me until I do.

That is the faith that I have. Small as a mustard seed or mighty as a lion. I stand on a rock that will not fail and I cling to the One who will never, ever fail me.