In my daily Bible reading I came across a verse I have read
and heard so often it usually goes in one ear and out the other. But not this
time.
Matthew 17:20 jumped off the page and lodged in my mind,
refusing to go away. As the thought penetrated my consciousness, I realized these
words hold great power.
Perhaps it is because of a few recent conversations with
friends about faith doubts. If we are truly honest with ourselves and others,
we will admit that at times we wonder, “Is this faith thing all for real?” “Does
God really hear and care and act?” “Does God even exist?” “Am I deluding
myself?”
I know these questions
have fleeted through my thoughts from time to time. I have been too frightened
to actually entertain them, but they still hover there in the back of my mind on
occasion.
I ask myself, is my faith too weak to call myself a
Christian? Is my faith too small for God to recognize? Is my faith too underdeveloped
to hope for answered prayer?
Matthew 17:20 says otherwise! “If you have faith the size of
a mustard seed. . .”
A mustard seed is about .039 of an inch. To be more
precise, it is about the size of the head of a straight pin—the kind used by
seamstresses to pin a pattern to fabric. That is very small. And, yet, from
that tiny seed, a bush can grow that reaches 20 feet! And it only takes one such
seed to produce that tall bush!
Likewise, even in the midst of my uncertainties, God always
reminds me of some small faith fact that I can’t deny—His reflection in the face
of a pansy, the arms of my husband, or the encouraging words of a friend. And from
that tiny kernel of conviction grows faith that can face doubts, challenges, and
tests.
Do I have faith the size of a mustard seed? Yes, I do! My
faith may not resemble the sea coconut-sized (12 inches) faith of Billy Graham,
but even at its tiniest there is that still, small voice of God that whispers, “I
am here!”
And Jesus says, that is enough.
Be encouraged!
Pam©2019 Pamela D. Williams
writepam71@gmail.com
