The concept of having faith like a mustard seed comes from Jesus’ own words in the Gospels. On a couple of occasions, Jesus used the mustard seed analogy to teach his disciples important spiritual truths about faith.
In Matthew 17:20, Jesus told his disciples, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” In this verse, Jesus uses the tiny mustard seed to make a point about the power of faith. Even though a mustard seed is small, when planted in the ground, it grows into a large bush. Jesus taught that even a small amount of faith, as tiny as a mustard seed, is powerful enough to move mountains.
The main point Jesus was making here is that it’s not the amount of our faith that matters most, but rather the presence of genuine faith. Even a tiny mustard seed-sized faith in God has the power to overcome major obstacles and produce growth in our lives, if we put our complete trust in Him.
In Matthew 13:31-32, as part of the Parable of the Mustard Seed, Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” Here, Jesus uses the mustard seed illustration to make a point about the growth of the Kingdom of God. The mustard seed represents the Kingdom, which starts small but progressively expands, growing larger and larger over time.
Jesus’ point to his disciples was that, even though the Kingdom would have humble or inconspicuous beginnings, it would eventually grow to become something great in scope and influence. The mustard seed parable demonstrates the potential power of something that begins small but experiences exponential growth. Jesus uses this well-known agricultural metaphor to explain how God’s Kingdom will expand mightily throughout the world, in spite of its small initial appearance.
So in summary, when Jesus speaks of having “mustard seed faith,” he is referring to having faith and trust in God that starts small but has the potential for enormous growth. Growing our faith may feel like a slow or insignificant process at first. But if we nurture that small seed of faith through spending time in God’s Word, prayer, worship, and fellowship with other believers, it will blossom over time into an unshakable confidence in God’s power and love for us.
Key Characteristics of Mustard Seed Faith
Based on Jesus’ teachings, we can identify several key characteristics of having mustard seed faith:
- Small beginnings – Mustard seed faith often starts small. We may start with a limited degree of trust in God or a partial glimpse of His power. But God can work mighty things even through our fledgling faith.
- Growth potential – Like the mustard seed, faith that starts small can grow large and powerful. Nurturing our faith causes it to put down roots and grow exponentially.
- Capacity for growth – Even if our faith feels insignificant now, it contains potential for greater things when planted in God’s Word and nurtured through spiritual practices.
- Produces fruit – Like the mustard seed plant, growing faith will eventually yield spiritual fruit in our lives, conforming us more to Christ’s image.
- Overcoming obstacles – Jesus said even a little faith could move mountains. Genuine faith enables us to overcome obstacles and persists despite challenges.
- Kingdom-focused – Mustard seed faith fuels the growth of God’s Kingdom. Even our small acts of faith can serve His greater Kingdom purposes.
- Childlike trust – Mustard seed faith represents a simple, uncomplicated childlike trust in our Heavenly Father despite life’s uncertainties.
- dependence – Rather than relying on our own efforts, mustard seed faith involves complete dependence on God’s strength.
- Starts with obedience – We demonstrate mustard seed faith when we obey God even in small things, trusting Him with the results.
In many ways, having mustard seed faith means placing our complete trust in God and His promises despite the odds. It means starting with the small amount of faith we have but believing God will use it for His glory. Our faith might feel insignificant, but God sees our heart posture of humility, dependence and obedience. When we submit our small faith to Him, He can perform His mighty purposes through us.
Examples of Mustard Seed Faith in the Bible
In addition to Jesus’ mustard seed parables, we find other examples of mustard seed-sized faith at work throughout the Bible:
- Noah (Genesis 6-9) – Noah demonstrated great faith by spending years building the ark according to God’s specifications. His faithful obedience condemned the world and saved his family, despite the seeming impossibility of a global flood.
- Abraham (Genesis 12-22) – With no child late in life, Abraham still trusted God’s promise that his offspring would become a great nation. His mustard seed faith brought forth Isaac in impossible circumstances.
- Moses (Exodus 3-14) – Moses obeyed God’s call to lead Israel out of Egypt. His small steps of faith led to the parting of the Red Sea and freedom from slavery.
- Rahab (Joshua 2) – Rahab demonstrated mustard seed faith by hiding the Israelite spies, believing God would deliver Jericho into their hands.
- David (1 Samuel 17) – Despite enormous odds, David relied on God to deliver Goliath into his hands with nothing but a slingshot.
- Esther (Esther 4) – Esther went before the king uninvited to save the Jews, risking her life but stepping out in faith.
- Widow’s offering (Luke 21:1-4) – The widow gave two mites, a tiny amount. But Jesus said her mustard seed-sized gift in faith was worth more than the riches of all.
In each of these examples, the person trusted God and obeyed Him even when circumstances seemed impossible. They took tiny steps of faith, and God honored their mustard seed-sized trust with tremendous blessings for them and others.
Principles for Growing Mustard Seed Faith
Since mustard seed faith holds such potential for our lives and God’s Kingdom, how can we nurture and grow this kind of trust in God?
Here are some key principles for growing mustard seed faith:
- Start where you are – God sees our hearts. Don’t get discouraged that your faith feels small. Start by trusting God with whatever amount of faith you have today.
- Spend time in God’s Word – Faith comes from hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). God’s truth strengthens our trust when we meditate on scripture.
- Pray – Pour out your heart to God, trusting Him with your concerns. Prayer nurtures intimate relationship with Him.
- Obey in small things – Take steps to obey God even in areas that feel insignificant. Then watch Him bless and grow your faith.
- Rely on God’s strength – God’s power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Rely on His strength within you rather than trying to manufacture faith.
- Fellowship with believers – Get plugged into a faith-filled community. Their encouragement can fan the flames of your faith.
- Persevere through trials – As we walk through challenges while clinging to God, our faith muscle grows stronger.
- Keep your eyes on Jesus – “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus…” (Hebrews 12:1-2). He is the author and perfecter of our faith.
- Praise and thank God – Praise focuses on God’s goodness, fueling faith. Thanking God in all circumstances shows we trust Him.
- Take a step – Step out in obedience and trust God with the results. Take action in faith and watch how God moves.
If we consistently apply these faith-building principles, we’ll see our mustard seed faith take root and grow into an unshakable confidence in our amazing Heavenly Father. Over time, our faith will mature and we’ll experience the joy of seeing mountains move through our small acts of obedience empowered by God.
How to Use Mustard Seed Faith in Difficult Seasons
Seasons of difficulty, uncertainty and fear can definitely test our faith. But these are times when nurturing our mustard seed faith is absolutely essential. Here are some ways to leverage mustard seed faith during hard times:
- Renew your trust – Difficulties shake our trust. Combat this by declaring truths about God’s goodness, power and love found in scripture.
- Give thanks – Thanking God in the trial reminds us of His sovereignty, shifting our focus to His faithfulness.
- Take small steps – Break the trial down into bite-sized steps. Accomplish one small act of faith at a time.
- Cling to Jesus – Fix your spiritual eyes on Jesus and the hope of eternity. Earthly troubles fade in light of this bigger perspective.
- Look for blessings – Even in difficulties, ask God to show you blessings and grace for which you can thank Him.
- Help someone else – Get the focus off yourself by serving others. See God work through your small act of faith.
- Persevere in prayer – Keep bringing your cares to God in prayer. Let perseverance strengthen your faith muscles.
- Believe His promises – Dig into scripture for God’s promises relevant to your trial. Stand on them despite emotions.
- Trust His character – Recall aspects of God’s Names and character that apply to your situation, like Healer, Provider, and Deliverer.
- Have heavenly perspective – Set your mind on eternity. Your current troubles are “light and momentary” from an eternal viewpoint (2 Corinthians 4:17).
During difficulties, nurturing mustard seed faith means declaring and demonstrating our trust in God’s power, love and sovereignty even in that hard season. Leaning on Him through the struggle causes our roots to grow deeper and our faith to grow stronger.
Applying Mustard Seed Faith as a Church Body
Not only do individual believers need to nurture mustard seed faith, but churches as a body can also exemplify this kind of foundational trust in God. Here are some ideas for how churches can grow mustard seed faith:
- Emphasize intimate prayer – Devote themselves to heartfelt prayer for each other, community and world. Ask God to increase their faith.
- Preach faith-filled sermons – Teach passages on faith and miracles. Remind the church nothing is impossible for God.
- Tell stories of faith – Share testimonies of members’ mustard seed faith resulting in miracles, deliverance, salvation, etc.
- Take small steps of obedience – As a church, listen to God’s leadings and step out in faith together in small ways at first.
- Start small ministries – Don’t limit what God can do. Branch out in faith with small ministries that have potential to grow.
- Praise and thank God – In corporate worship, make praise and thanksgiving a major emphasis. This builds the church’s faith in God’s sovereignty.
- Remember previous victories – Recall times when God moved miraculously. This bolsters faith that He will move mightily again.
- Attempt things requiring faith – Plan events, outreaches, building programs that will require powerful moves of God to accomplish.
- Focus on bringing God glory – Seek to bring glory to God rather than fat bank accounts, big crowds, or top talent. This aligns motives with His Kingdom purposes.
- Send out missionaries – Support faithful members called to the mission field. Believe their mustard seed faith will bear Kingdom fruit.
Churches wanting to walk in radical faith together, like we see in Acts, must nurture a mustard seed faith mentality that fully depends on God to move through their small steps of obedience. God can use churches with this kind of corporate faith in incredible ways to advance His Kingdom.
Mustard Seed Faith Unlocks God’s Miraculous Power
The primary reason Jesus highlights the great potential of mustard seed faith is that it taps into the realm of God’s miraculous power. God moves through people of faith. When we place complete confidence in Him for things humanly impossible, He often chooses to display His glory by displaying His might (see Hebrews 11 for many examples).
Some miraculous works God may accomplish through mustard seed faith include:
- Healing from sickness or injury (James 5:14-15)
- Provision of desperately needed resources (Mark 6:35-44)
- Victory in spiritual warfare and deliverance (Ephesians 6:16)
- Reconciliation in broken relationships (Matthew 5:23-24)
- Salvation of unbelieving friends and family (John 4:53)
- Wisdom and favor (James 1:5-8, Proverbs 3:3-4)
- Courage to act on God’s calling (Joshua 1:9)
- Power to obey despite fear (Matthew 14:27-29)
- Strength in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
- Protection in dangerous times (Psalm 91:4-7)
Scripture gives us many examples of times when God came through with miracle-working power when His people stepped out in faith, however small. As we walk out mustard seed faith, believing God can do the impossible, it taps into His miraculous power at work within us and through us. We must keep our eyes firmly fixed on our Almighty God rather than the obstacles we face (2 Corinthians 4:18).
Mustard Seed Faith and God’s Kingdom Purposes
Most importantly, nurturing mustard seed faith aligns our heart posture with God’s ultimate plan for history – the full establishment of His Kingdom on earth. Our faith, though it may seem insignificant, fuels the advancement of God’s purposes when it is placed fully in Him.
God’s Kingdom starts small in our hearts but is eternal and expansive in its destiny, like the mustard seed. When our little acts of faith align with God’s overarching Kingdom mission, they take on power far beyond ourselves. The Holy Spirit uses them to change lives and situations, bringing glory to the Father as His Kingdom advances in the world.
So mustard seed faith means having full confidence that God can use even our small displays of trust to unleash His miraculous power. As we step out in faith, no matter how insignificant it feels, God brings fruitfulness and new life – fruit that remains and advances His Kingdom purposes (John 15:16).