“For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a 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 17:20b

You know what would look great out in the Flint Hills of Kansas?

Pikes Peak.

I love the gently rolling hills and waving wheat, but a beautiful snow-capped mountain peak would be stunning, right there along the turnpike. Who’s with me?

I’ve been praying for this for weeks, and… nothing. I’ve conjured up every ounce of faith I could manage, and Pikes Peak hasn’t moved an inch.

Am I doing this wrong? Jesus said all I needed was faith the size of a mustard seed. Surely, I could wring that much out of my soul. It’s times like this when I begin to question the actual power of faith.

If I really want to move mountains, I need something bigger than a mustard seed. Like a Bagger 293. It holds the world record for the tallest terrestrial vehicle, at 315 feet! It’s made from a German company, and this sucker can haul some dirt. It has 18 buckets, each one of them 70 feet in diameter. It can move about 220,000 tons of earth a day.

Let that monstrosity loose, and the elevation of Kansas would increase by a factor of 10. Sure, Colorado Springs might sue us, but they’ve got the rest of the Rockies to enjoy.

Jesus seems to think faith is as strong — stronger — than a Bagger 293, but I’m not sure I can manage a thousandth of that power.

Don’t get me wrong, faith has gotten me through some pretty tough times. When I’ve lost a loved one, my faith comforted me that there is more beyond this life. When I’ve felt hopelessly trapped by circumstances, faith has somehow eaten at the barriers and helped me find my way.

Throughout my life, my faith has helped me choose my steps and helped me listen for promptings of the Holy Spirit. My faith has helped me see Christ in other people and find love in barren places. Faith has opened me to the Grace of God, and that has made all the difference.

Maybe it’s stronger than I give it credit.

I always say that faith is like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. When Jesus talks about moving mountains, he’s encouraging us to keep at it–to keep working out!

Maybe faith can be that strong after all. Maybe I don’t need a Bagger 293. I’ve got some spiritual muscles which I need to keep flexing. I’ve got arms and legs and a brain, all in place to live out what I believe. And I’ve got a lifetime to see what faith can truly do.

Maybe faith can move a mountain, but what’s more impressive…

is how it’s

moved me.

Have a great week,

Mitch