Hope for the weak

Does anyone else ever wonder exactly what Jesus meant when He said a mustard seed of faith would move a mountain? And yet the same Jesus in numerous other places either blessed or withheld His blessings based on great or little faith. At one point we hear him frustrated of those who have "little faith". And even in His hometown, he did few miracles because of their "lack of faith". So, why, then would he tell us we need just a mustard seed? Obviously, His blessings come when we have greater faith & what we lack spiritually is usually related to our lack of faith. Hmmm.

At points along my journey with the Lord I have found myself offering Him everything that I am, but being fulling aware that it's not much - not much faith, almost no strength, very little compassion or expression of His love (without His help), and almost no talent at all. But what I am is His, and somehow in the simplicity of the offer of so little, I know He's pleased. It's my mustard seed of faith & I'm giving it to Him. Not much, just a seed. But it's a seed He can plant, and it's a seed that can become like a giant sequoia. Maybe it's at that point when the mountains will begin to move.

For many years I have found myself praying according to the book of Acts, that I might be a woman "full of faith and full of the Holy Spirit". Someone of great faith, like the Roman centurion, or like the apostles who suffered so willingly & joyfully for His name. Not in the eyes of men, but in the opinion of God, I want to be one who has great faith. Most of the time I feel like it is so small, just a seed, with a little bud on the end. So the offer continues. "Lord, you can have my mustard seed."

I find, though, that I am in good company. If He didn't delight in taking the weak & foolish things of the world to shame the wise, where would any of us be? If only the strong make it, then I, for one, am up a creek without a paddle. But no. He chose Peter...and Saul...and Moses...and David. Weak ones. Foolish ones. Self-righteous ones. Those none of us would have picked, and He made His glory manifest among & in them. He truly does make all things beautiful.