Recently I saw a new poster in a coffee shop that said boldly, “We believe in the potential of the tiny bean.” The advertising then went on to explain the virtues of this brand’s process to transform the coffee bean into the deliciously rich and satisfying drink they wanted me to buy. So much potential is such a tiny little bean or seed.

As I sipped my very satisfying cup of coffee, I thought of another tiny seed – the mustard seed. Jesus used this tiniest of seeds as an image for the kingdom of God, and for the size of faith. It is this last image that I pondered as I sipped away.

The disciples asked why they were unable to remove a demon from a boy, and Jesus replied that they needed faith. He then continued by explaining if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. (Matthew 17:20)

With what little faith we have, God can make things happen. How reassuring that is to me, that even in my struggles with faith and my feelings of inadequate faith, God is still present and knows my potential. In times of insecurity, wondering if my faith is deep enough, God can still work.

If a tiny coffee bean can be processed to make a cup of soothing coffee, how much more can my little mustard seed of faith be used by God to create something amazing for Him. My prayer is that we will have faith, even a very tiny bit of faith, nurture it with Scripture, prayer, worship and listening to God, and watch it be transformed by God.

By Linda Wolfe, Glen Acres Baptist Church, Waterloo