Matthew 17:19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
I read an incredibly interesting piece by Nadia Bolz-Weber entitled “It’s a low bar (thank God)” this morning on this section of scripture. (I encourage you to google it. It’s worth the read.) She, like me, has always read this scripture as a rebuke from Jesus about the lack of faith in the disciples. Yet she talks about the significance of Greek grammar tenses and comes to see this scripture in a new light, as a reminder of the importance of the foundation of faith that we *do* have, no matter how small it feels.
Matthew 17:20a He replied, “Because you have so little faith….
My internal critic is really loud. She is mean and caustic. She berates me at every opportunity for all the things I cannot do well….and there are so many things. But Jesus, with His quiet voice of truth, is always there, whispering to my heart that He is with me, that I am His, that I am enough simply because I am His. That truth is my mustard seed, and it’s big enough to sustain me–He is big enough to sustain me–no matter what trials I face. Thank You, Jesus.
Matthew 17:20b …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….
Lord, This world is so loud, my doubts are so loud, my failures are so very loud. Help me to cut through the noise and chaos of life to hear You whisper to my heart–I am Yours, Your grace is perfected in my weakness, when trouble comes as it always does, my teeny, tiny, mustard seed of faith, of belief, in You can see me through. I just have to hold on. Amen.
Matthew 17:20c …Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Have a blessed day. I love you.