How Faith Moves Mountains

Jesus makes some pretty astounding claims in Mark 11:23-24. Anyone can move a mountain into the sea by speaking to it, provided he believes what he says. In fact, anything at all that we ask in prayer will be done for us if we believe we have already received it. Of course anyone can probably testify of all the things that they prayed for and didn’t get.

Does that prove that the promise is wrong? No. If Jesus is wrong about that, he might be wrong about anything else. Christians must believe that he is the all-knowing and all-powerful Lord of the universe who knows what to promise and how to keep up his end of the deal.

First off, Jesus does not say that we can take our gimme list to him and he’ll give us everything on it. The promise is for what we ask in prayer, not what we bring to prayer in order to ask.  He will give us the desires of our heart: not what our flesh desires, but the desires that come from our heart.

Second, Jesus does not promise that the mountain will move immediately or that we will have what we pray for as soon as we get up from prayer. In fact, he stressed that we must believe and not doubt. Anyone who gets to a level of prayer to receive a desire from God will not doubt the experience while it’s happening.

Third, mountain-moving faith requires persistence and endurance. Circumstances will tell you that whatever God promised will not happen. People, including close friends and family, will tell you you’re making a mistake not moving in some easier or more obvious direction. Only in the time of waiting can doubt arise. No one who acts on doubt can expect to receive anything from the Lord, because doubt  kills the necessary faith.

Fourth, it is in the time of waiting that people gain the strength and perspective they will need in order to thrive once they possess the answer to their prayers. Consider how long Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Hannah, David, Daniel, Paul, and many other people in the Bible had to wait.

So speak to that mountain. It will move into the sea eventually. That is, it will move if you hang on to your faith in spite of adverse circumstances. See my post on Grace and Judgment for more on Mountain-Moving Faith.

Image via Wikipedia