An “Even Though” Kind of Faith: How to Trust God in Uncertain TimesSample

Have you ever held a mustard seed in your hand? I remember sitting in Sunday School, staring at this tiny speck, as our teacher read from Matthew 17:20. "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed," Jesus said, "you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

For years, I found comfort in this verse, believing the message was simply about having even the smallest amount of faith. But recently, God revealed something that transformed my understanding of this familiar teaching: while beginning with mustard seed faith is beautiful, it was never meant to be our final destination. Where does your faith stand today? Is it still the size it was when you first believed?

Consider this – if I learned about mustard seed faith as a child, should I still celebrate having that same measure of faith as an adult? Just as a gardener plants seeds expecting them to grow into flourishing plants, God plants faith in our hearts anticipating transformation. When Jesus used the mustard seed analogy, He wasn't setting a limit – He was establishing a starting point. That tiny seed grows into one of the largest flowering plants in the garden, towering over other herbs and vegetables. Shouldn't our faith follow the same pattern?

In my Bible, concordance – faith is defined as "resilience, loyalty, and complete trust in God." This definition reveals that faith isn't merely a static belief or momentary conviction – it's a living, dynamic relationship with God that should continuously deepen and expand. Like any relationship, it requires nurturing to flourish. Take a moment to reflect: How has your faith grown since you first believed? What areas of your life still need that mountain-moving faith?

The distinction becomes clear: believing in Jesus is the seed, but developing trust in His character and power is the magnificent bloom we're meant to have. This journey from seed to garden giant, from initial belief to unshakeable trust, is the heart of our spiritual growth. Are you allowing your faith to grow to its full potential, or are you content with keeping it safely small?

But what happens when this growing faith faces trials? Join me in our next devotional as we explore how testing shapes our faith.