The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” So the Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this black mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled out by the roots and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” (Luke 17:5, 6)
I tell others I believe, I sing the songs and pray the prayers. But in my heart is Jesus solid? My faith is a tiny, black mustard seed—no bigger than a dot on a page. What can I do with such an insignificant dose of life’s vital ingredient?
My world is destroyed by sin and I need a replacement. I can’t remain a permanent resident of this cursed planet. There must be something more, someone perfect, someplace of peace and love. To continue living, I have to hope in that reality. I’m forced to use my mustard seed dot of faith.
There on my palm is the round, black seed. It’s not much, but I take it between thumb and finger and place it on the ground. Next, I lay hold of my eternal future and set that mass atop my seed. I take up Sundays, think twice, then grab all the days of my week, and lay them on the mustard seed. My income, career, and retirement go on top of the growing pile—all supported by that little seed.
What will I do with my entertainment, rest, and me time? I’ll put them onto the seed. I have no choice. It’s my only option for rescue out of this world. I can’t logically expect the seed to also bear the weight of my broken family and loved ones, but where else can I lay them? On the seed they must go.
My heaviest burden of all, the one that crushes joy, is the unfairness of life. What will I do with child soldiers forced to murder, with cancer ridden saints, and with earthquakes that kill grade schoolers by the thousands? I assumed God would at least take over those loads. But no, they too must rest on my seed.
Here am I, a pitiful, hungry soul, with a minuscule faith. My dot refuses to enlarge, and yet, by force of my will, I choose to stand all that I am, all that I have, and every choice I make, on that tiny bit of faith.
Prayer: Jesus, Savior and Lord, all my hope is in you.