The Mustard Seed

I never quite understood what having faith ‘the size of a mustard’ meant or even looked like. It just always sounded like more of a riddle, than anything else.

In the verse of Luke 17:5-6, the disciples asked of God to “Increase [their] faith”.  In my mind, I would have expected God to drop some heavy bars. You know, the ones that leave you feeling shook and more powerful than ever.

But Jesus simply responded, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will command this mulberry to uproot itself and move, and it will obey you.” Now, if you’ve ever seen a mustard seed you’ll know that it is so small, such that it looks like a tiny grain. The picture of something so microscopic (to the point of being invisible) possessing such power gives me a greater idea of just how benevolent our God is.

My curiosity lies in why Jesus refer to having faith as a mustard tree. TBH and realistically speaking, that would have made more sense. In this way, you’re betting ‘like’ against ‘like’. At least you’d have some sort of assurance to know that this mustard tree has some sort of a fighting chance against the mulberry tree

Plot twist: The definition of faith is, according to Hebrews 11:1, the “Assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

I think Jesus made the comparison of the seed on purpose. As mentioned above, faith is not about certainty or physical substance, but rather in full confidence and trust that what we expect for will be fulfilled.. It is about knowing that the God whom you belong to, is unfathomably greater than the  “mulberry tree”itself. You may be facing a giant mulberry tree in your life right now. This may come in the form of a challenge, relationship problems, financial loss or the fear of failure in the dreams you are harboring.  But the Good News is this: God is greater, ALWAYS. Nothing is impossible for Him.

He’s that great that He only just needs a speck of a seed that He will nourish.

If our faith came in the form of a mustard tree, from the word go, there wouldn’t be a reason to rely on Him. This is where true rest comes in. The trusting in the process. We know that he is the Author & Finisher of our faith, watering this seed, its growth and its roots from start till the end.

I believe, the answer that Jesus had, in response to the request placed by the disciples is, “Yes, I will increase your faith, but you first have to plant the seed so that I can then establish it to grow.”