Nineteen months ago, I had shoulder surgery. So many moments during my recovery made me say, ‘I can’t.’ I can’t lift that, I can’t move my arm like that, I can’t even put a shirt on by myself. But slowly, so slowly, I don’t even remember exactly when, God turned my ‘I can’t’ into ‘I might be able to.’
‘I might be able to’ is a small phrase that shifts the mindset to acknowledge possibility. Possibility, even a minuscule amount, fans the flames of belief. Belief recognizes that nothing is impossible with God. And when our Almighty God is in the equation, mountains move.
“He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20 ESV
Mustard Seed Faith
A mustard seed is tiny, but it has the possibility of a massive tree tucked inside it. The ‘little faith’ Jesus chastises the disciples for obviously lacked that potential. Mustard seed faith and little faith are not the same. What is mustard seed faith? For me, it is a conviction that turns ‘I can’t’ into ‘I might be able to.’
Mustard seed faith is an inner conviction ignited by an internal flame from God.
Convictions spur us into action. We are not capable of planting our own seeds of conviction. Only God working inside us has that power. Reading His word, learning His voice, and surrendering to His will, make room for Him to plant those mighty seeds within us. When you know that you know what God is asking of you, it births mustard-seed faith, compelling your mountains to move.
Mountains of doubt, defeat, disbelief, or whatever is in the path of our growth can move. Will move. Yes, in His timing, as He opens our eyes to what is possible. When the mountain of ‘I can’t’ is moved, our faith expands, and nothing will be impossible for us in Him.
*For those of you who prayer walk ponder what ‘I can’t’ mountain is on your path.