If You Have Faith
Today I was reading in my morning Bible study with some of the best Christian women I know Matthew 21:21 which reads: “Jesus replied, ‘Truly I tell you, if you have faith & do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ & it will be done.’”
As I read, I felt a pang within my heart. Jesus had just told a fig tree that it will never again produce fruit and it immediately withered up before their eyes. It’s one thing that Jesus Christ can do such miracles, but for Him to go on to say that we can do the same if we have faith.
I have seen miracles in my life. There is no doubt about that. However, there have been more times than I can count where I asked, prayed, even begged God for something that I knew was impossible, and I had faith that He could do it. I didn’t doubt. I prayed in faith, yet the miracle didn’t happen.
Let me add that God never wavered in His faithfulness, however, and used all situations for my good and His glory, but I’ve wondered what was lacking in my faith to see the miracles that Jesus talks about in this verse. I truly felt like my faith was strong when I prayed.
Something today when reading this passage struck me differently and I felt led to look up the original root word for “faith” used. Often times our English language cannot do an accurate translation for words from Greek or Hebrew because the English language is more limited. Where the word “faith” was used in the translation, it was a true translation but it wasn’t complete.
The original root word for faith is the Greek work pistis which means faith, trust, belief, confidence, fidelity, and reliability. It is an unwavering conviction in God. Pistis is often translated as “faith” but it carries rich connotations of loyalty and dependability. This isn’t just a faith in a moment or in a particular desire of the impossible from God. It is a deep, unwavering commitment.
So it could actually be read:
“Jesus replied, ‘Truly I tell you, if you have (deep, unwavering commitment) and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.’” (Matthew 21:21)
This unwavering commitment, belief, confidence, trust means that in all situations we are loyal to Christ. If I’m being honest, I can’t claim that as true in my life. There are often times I jump ahead of God and take things into my own hands. Or I sit and stew, worry, fret over small things, proving my faith unloyal and uncommitted. And then when a situation comes along where I need a miracle, I pray with all my might and heart asking God to provide and feeling in my heart that I am believing with everything I have, only to be disappointed. Faith is a lifestyle, not a one time belief. The faith God is asking for is loyal, unwavering, committed, reliable, and trustworthy.
Let me say that this is not meant to discourage anyone, but I pray it pushes you to see all situations as worthy of our faith. Every situation that we face, big or small, should be met with fearless faith, but the best news of all is that even when we fail, God is forgiving and gracious. Full of love and mercy ready to pick us back up and continue on.
This stirring from the Lord today brought me to my knees in need of forgiveness, but also shifted my perspective in what faith ought to look like. I must remember to walk in faith through all things. To not believe more in bad situations than I believe in God’s goodness and faithfulness. To live on a foundation of loyal, unwavering faith in the Great I Am.
