The Struggle to Trust God

Let’s face it, we know we should trust; we make decisions based on trusting Him, we act out our faith. And still there are times when we despair and struggle to trust God. Luke 17:5 affirms that the disciples themselves beseeched Jesus to increase their faith. This in the midst of a discussion of the walk of a believer.

Mustard seed of faith

The trust that Jesus then describes to the disciples is that of the size of a seed. The more I ponder a seed, the more I think that the emphasis is not on the size, as is often mentioned along with the seed in verses. The seed is indeed small, but useful in itself. However, the point of a seed is to be planted and grow into something that no longer resembles a seed.

The mustard seed has many uses; it can be used for hair and skin treatments as well more serious health conditions. I use ground mustard seed to flavor my quiche. Yet as the seed grows into a full plant, it grows in worth. In the case of the specific mustard seed, the branches have antibacterial properties, the fruit is edible and of course, there is the harvest of more seeds. The tree offers shade and nourishes animals too.

Seed development - faith development

Seeds are fascinating. Even a quick check on Wikipedia increases my understanding of the little things. Some require darkness to sprout. Some require longer periods of dormancy before they can sprout. The sprouting even has to have the right conditions. Some seeds produce chemicals that inhibit sprouting and have to be washed away. Some seeds repair damaged DNA as they sprout.

Our faith seems to undergo these same stressors, doesn’t it? We walk through the darkness, we seem to be bombarded by those who inhibit our faith, we need Jesus to heal our brokenness.  We go through dry dormant times, we struggle to break free of confinements.

Grow into a tree

Jesus says if our faith is as small as a mustard seed, we can use our words to move mountains into the sea. What if our faith grows into a mustard tree? Imagine what that kind of faith can do! Why would these passages, Jesus’s words, not be an invitation or even a challenge, to grow our faith into a tree?

I think that is what happens as we struggle in our faith: we grow it into a tree. We have to push out of the seed and become a tree. It is hard work and takes time to grow into a tree. But we have the consummate gardener. He is there, tending to us in the stress of winter, the full sun of summer, the droughts, the blights, the pests, and the floods. He is faithful and true, always present. So, let us rejoice in the struggle and embrace His work in us, standing firm in our trust of our good God.