“He replied, “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.”
Luke 17:6 (NIV)
For months, I had looked forward to hearing the speaker at the conference. We all had. None of the ladies in my group - including me - had heard her speak before but her name was well-known throughout the country so we were very excited to listen and learn from her.
She first shared a bit of her life: husband, three children, 4 dogs. Then she began to address the audience. “I want to speak to all of you about one important truth,” she continued. “If your life is not going the way you want it to, it is because you do not have enough faith.”
Total silence in the audience. It occurred to me that she thought at that moment that she had our complete attention and, believe me, she did. Then she added “Do you have a husband who says he doesn’t love you any more? Prodigal children? Less money in the bank than bills on your kitchen table? Are you sick? Do you need a bigger home or maybe a new car? Where. Is. Your. Faith?”
I was stunned! I could not help but look at the ladies sitting around me after she shared her “truth.” Eyes turned downward. Struggling with the shame the speaker had accused them of. Tears in the eyes of several. She had hit on situations several had either struggled with at one time or were struggling with now. But at the same time, she gave the impression that all of those situations were our fault because we didn’t have enough faith in God. That the amount of faith we have determines if God will help us or not. Nothing could be further from the truth!
I will confess to you that it took everything in me not to jump up and demand “Where is your truth found in the Bible that agrees with what you just said? How could you make an untrue declaration like that? Look at these ladies in your audience that you put down with your opinion!” But I stayed silent, unable to focus on her, my heart on the ladies with me.
One in my group had cancer. She was taking treatments and still trying to work. We had prayed together many times about her illness. Her trust in God and faith in Him to take care of her, no matter the outcome, always amazed me. Another woman had not one but two prodigal children who turned their backs on their faith. She continued to trust the Lord and have faith that He was in control of her prodigals. Did these ladies feel like they were barely hanging on at times? Yes. But did they have “enough faith” in the Lord. Absolutely.
The speaker that day may have been trying to encourage her audience but to us, she completely misunderstood the love and compassion of Jesus. It doesn’t mean the more faith we have, the more God will give us what we want. It’s about trusting Him with all our problems because He knows what we truly need and He hears us when we call - even when our faith is as tiny as a mustard seed.
Father, please forgive me when I share my opinion instead of your word. Your Truth is what matters and my faith and trust are in you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
R.A.P. it up . . .
Reflect
Have you ever felt that if you had more faith, everything would work out for you in your life?
Is that feeling backed up with Scripture?
Apply
Look up information about a mustard seed and why Jesus used it as an example.
Thank the Lord for hearing us when we call and for helping our faith to grow in Him.
Power
Luke 17:6 (NIV) “He replied, “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.”
Matthew 17:20 (NIV) “He replied, ‘Because you have so little faith, I tell you the truth. 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.”
Psalm 28:7 (NIV) “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.”
