When The Mountain Is Too Big To Move

“You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? It would be terrible to hear those words, especially when they are spoken by Jesus. The disciples of Jesus were on the receiving end of those words, and they were the chosen people who were handpicked by Jesus to follow Him on His journey.

The disciples walked with Jesus, ate with Jesus, and laughed with Him. They got to hear Him speak, watch Him heal the sick, and raise the dead. If anyone on earth had lots of faith, it should have been the disciples. So, why did Jesus say those things to them?

This all happens when a man approached Jesus with his son, who was “suffering greatly.” The man begged Jesus to have mercy on his child and to heal him. He told Jesus that he had brought his son to the disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.

Matthew 17:17-20

¹⁷ “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” ¹⁸ Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.

¹⁹ Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

²⁰ He replied, “Because you have so little faith. 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. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

These words sound like Jesus was aggravated with the disciples. I can’t imagine how many times he has been aggravated with me for not believing or having enough faith. I’m sure the disciples had faith that Jesus could do the miracle, but they didn’t have faith that they could heal the child.

Or, maybe they thought the circumstance in front of them was too challenging. Facing a demon would be terrifying. Had the challenge been to heal the child of a fever, they might have had faith for that miracle. Is it possible that they thought the miracle needed was too big for them?

Miracles happen every day. We breathe in air, our heart beats and pumps blood through our body, and we are able to walk while thinking about a few hundred other things. Our body is a walking, talking miracle in motion. When we are cut, our body heals itself. We have been given the power to create little human beings, and women give birth to a miracle every day.

But, like the disciples, when we are faced with a situation that is too powerful or overwhelming, our faith dwindles. We pray for miracles, but do we really EXPECT it to happen? Do we have the faith to believe for it? When we face health issues, financial struggles, broken relationships, or terrible accidents, we are often tempted to think those mountains are too big to conquer. Doubt and despair creep in, and faith oozes out.

But, Jesus reminds us that with faith, nothing is impossible! The disciples could have removed the demon by having faith and invoking the name of Jesus. By ourselves, we are not capable of moving mountains, but by putting our faith in the One who can, mountains will crumble.

When we put all of our trust in the Lord, we are connecting to the One who has unlimited resources. Think back at the miracles the Lord has already done, and you will be filled with wonder, awe, and expectation of the miracles yet to come.

To God Goes The Glory!

Have A Blessed Day!