Truly I tell you, 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.” -Matthew 17:20
The journey of setting out to do something difficult and seeing it to fruition is overwhelming. For years, I had a deep longing to write novels—stories that would entertain while glorifying God. But what an impossible task. I lacked the tools, I tended to use my words to complain and tear down rather than to honor my Creator, and I had squandered my time on a million other things besides practicing writing (a mountain of unfinished craft projects stashed in the corner of my office is a testament to this). I know my Father is the God of the impossible, but I hadn’t given Him much to work with. I prayed for Him to help me overcome my unbelief in both myself and in His ability to do a work with my stubborn, broken, and messy life.
In 2019, I attended a women’s retreat where the speaker gave us each an index card with a mustard seed taped to it. It would serve as a reminder that even when our faith is small, God can do big, amazing things. I tucked it between the pages of my Bible, occasionally glancing at it.
One morning about eight months after receiving it, I awoke with a compelling need to go straight to my Bible before anything else. I didn’t even put on my glasses or make coffee. As I pulled it onto my lap, the blue notecard fell out. But on this morning, the mustard seed looked much different from the day I put it in my Bible. A tiny embryonic stem and leaf protruded from one end, and the tip of an itty-bitty root grew from the other. Mind you, it was taped to an index card, stuffed between the pages of a thick book. No sunlight, no moisture, nothing that would lend itself to germination. And yet, here was life. My only explanation was and remains that God wanted to show me something wonderful for us to delight in together. And as a biologist, I can assure you, I was indeed delighted. It was also a tangible reminder that God can produce life where none should exist.
I still keep that card between pages 1496 and 1497 where it serves as a testament to God’s ability to do the impossible. When I’m struggling, I still see that God grows hope where there seems to be only desolation. He doesn’t need my expertise, my clean-up behavior, or even my dedicated practice. He only needs my faith, however small and dried out it may be.
Are there places in your life or dreams you hold close that seem impossible? Have you lost hope that God can produce a mighty work out of the barren wasteland? Invite Him into that space. Offer Him even the tiniest seed of trust. Then stand back and watch as He is faithful to grow life where you least expect it.