A Matter of Faith...

By Carol Round

Welcome to the Crowd

“The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" Luke 17:5 (NIV)

“I have faith. I just want proof to back it up.” Those words, spoken by an actor in a movie I watched recently, reminded me that many of us struggle sometimes to have faith.

Unexpected expenses cause bills to pile up on our desk. A loved one is diagnosed with an incurable disease. A job loss leaves a father wondering how he will support his family.

Life experiences can cause our faith to expand and deflate like a hot air balloon. Have you felt that way? I know I have.

Have you felt at times that your faith is shrinking instead of growing? Welcome to the crowd. Even Jesus’ disciples knew they needed more faith. They begged Him, “Increase our faith!”

When I read this passage, I realized that even those who were closest to Christ didn’t exhibit super faith or impeccable behavior. However, they knew what they needed, and they asked.

A friend, who has overcome many life disappointments, shared an encouragement which she hands to friends and strangers, along with a small rock. On the blue card is the following inspiration from Mark 11:22-23: “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.”

Instructions on the card read: Please follow directions as needed to conquer your mountain! When you feel defeated, put your rock on the floor in front of you. Stand on it. Now you have conquered it.

If it stands in your way, with your rock on the floor, walk around it. There is always another way.

If it bothers you, kick your rock to the side. Then cast it away, because you will not walk in offense. Now pick it up. You have done the impossible. You have moved a mountain.

This is your mountain. God said to move it. You just thought it was bigger.

This rock was once a boulder. This boulder was once a mountain. Remember, mountains are only as large as you see them.

Some people read Mark 11: 22-23 and get frustrated because they have faith and the mountains don’t seem to be moving. We can believe and we can try but sometimes that mountain won’t budge.

When I wanted to build a flowerbed, I had to move rocks. Some were part of my plan; others were not. Sometimes the rocks were heavy and could only be moved one at a time. I felt frustrated because I seemed to be making little progress. Hours later, I stood back amazed. The mountains had been moved.

Faith still moves mountains but sometimes the greater act of faith is not seeing the mountain move instantly. We have to work with God to move it bit by bit.

What is the mountain in your life? Just ask God for more faith and watch that mountain become a pile of rocks.

A collection of Carol Round’s most popular faith-based columns is now available in book form. For more information, readers can reach her at carolaround@yahoo.com.