Moving Mountains

 “And I brought him to Thy disciples, and they could not cure him.” (Matthew 17:16)

Imagine the father’s confusion and brokenness as he expected a miracle from Jesus’ disciples. He had faith needed for his son’s healing; the men healed others with similar disorders. Why could they not miraculously help his son? The desperate father knelt before Jesus, asking for mercy.

How different our lives would be if we believed and embraced all that Jesus promised us. You may be thinking: I do believe what He promised. Yes? Think back; how far has your faith recently moved a mountain? Sounds extreme, but Jesus did use a mountain in His lesson-teaching-conversation with the disciples. When the disciples asked why they couldn’t cure the boy, Jesus said it was because of their unbelief (v. 20). He said with just a speck of faith, the size of a tiny mustard seed, they could command a mountain to move, and it would—nothing would be impossible for them with even a little faith. Jesus rebuked the boy’s demon, and it left him—demon-possessed one moment and set free the next.

We, too, may not experience miracles or see answers to our prayers because of little faith. What would cause our trust in God’s power to wane? Could it be we are out of fellowship with the Father? Was our prayer a selfish one? Was a timeframe added for the answer? Are we willing to pray, “Father, not my will, but Your will?” or “Whatever it takes?” Faith moves mountains only when it coincides with God’s will (1 John 5:14–15).

According to Jesus, another reason why the disciples could not expel the child’s demon: some miracles require prayer and fasting (v. 21). Not all believers are willing to make such sacrifices for moving mountains. Faith, like muscles, needs exercise to receive the full benefit. Exercising involves time, commitment, and discomfort. Are you willing to exercise your faith? What if the workout requires fasting to hear from God? What are you ready to do for a miracle?