Small Faith, Big Mountain

Devotional Reading: “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” Matthew 17:20 NLT

If you’re like me, you’ll admit that even after several days of talking about how God uses small things, it’s still hard to believe. It’s hard to see the “mustard seeds” in our lives as opportunities for great growth. Is God working in the unseen, furthering His kingdom, and strengthening his children through those who aren’t on the stage doing “great” things?

No one would have ever thought a mustard seed would be able to move mountains! Jesus says faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains.

Moving mountains is a big deal. Imagine the amount of equipment and the number of years it would take to move a mountain from where it stands into the sea? Yet once again, God is letting us know that small doesn’t mean weak or incapable.

Our small acts of service – caring for children, giving to the poor on the side of the road, speaking encouraging words to a friend, or following through when we commit to something – point to a God who says that “being faithful in the little things is faithful in much” (Luke 16:10). Our small acts of love and faith can move mountains of fear, shame, hopelessness, and fatigue in those around us, one small decision at a time.

Why do we minimize the little things God calls us to and resist the humility and growth that will come? It can be hard and discouraging to recognize the small steps toward growth when we long for big opportunities to make a difference in such a broken world. There is hope when we acknowledge God is working in the small and unforeseen things to spread the kingdom like wildfire throughout the earth.

Prayer and Confession
Help me be content with small acts of service and the difference they can make in others’ lives.

Further Reading: Luke 16:10, Psalm 115:12