A Grain of Mustard Seed

It was a Thursday evening and I was folding laundry as usual. As I sorted through the tiny clothes of my sweet baby girl I came across an outfit that she had worn frequently. The outfit is pink with the image of an angel embroidered on the front. But until this very moment I had not noticed the verse sewn on the back. It reads, "For He shall command His angels to guard you in all your ways" Psalm 91:11. As I read this verse I wept uncontrollably.

Just a few weeks earlier my children and I were attacked at a local supermarket. As I loaded one child into the car, a man approached me, then abruptly took hold of the shopping cart that my son was sitting in. I fought fiercely to keep the man from taking my cart and I felt that God had granted me the strength of two men as I labored to keep my son safe. Surprisingly, although I was fighting to keep this man from kidnapping my son, I somehow managed to stay calm. My thoughts were amazingly clear, and looking back I know that I was being told what to say and what action to take next. God's promise was true: His angels were protecting us.

As I held my daughter's garment, reliving this painful event, my tears did not come from anxiety; I wept because on the day of the attack my daughter had worn this subtle reminder of God's Word. And I was in awe of the powerful mercies of our loving Saviour. I am not suggesting that God protected us that day because of the outfit my daughter had worn. He protected us because of our faith in Him and in His Word. Jesus said, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed…" Luke 17:6. To witness the power of God's Word applied in such a personal way is remarkable. He saved my child from harm! And He promises this power and protection if we have faith in Him - even if it is only as small and insignificant as a tiny mustard seed.

Even now, a year after the attack and with full knowledge that these men have recently been convicted of other terrible crimes, I can still find the strength to rejoice! Yes, rejoice! "Therefore do not lose heart… for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" II Corinthians 4:16-18. I can rejoice because this experience brought my family even closer to our Heavenly Father. And I rejoice because God turned a bad situation into a powerful illustration of His power and might!

Because of this experience, certain verses mean much more to me today than ever before. Particularly Psalm 18 and specifically this verse: "In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice. My cry came before Him into His ears." I share this personal story as a reminder of God's goodness and faithfulness. But more importantly, I share this personal story so that others may know Him.

Have you experienced His life-changing power in your life? If not, the next time you run to the local supermarket or tuck your children safely into bed, let these things be a reminder that you are only a mustard seed away from the powerful things God wants you to experience through knowing Him. It's easy. All you need is the faith of a little seed.

And Faith begins by seeing the face of God instead of His hands and thanking Him for the unseen future blessings...

Dear God, I want to thank you for what you have already done. I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards. I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better, I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me, I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears, I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves, I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet, I am going to thank you right now.

I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job, I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief, I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed, I am thanking you right now.

I am thanking you because I am alive. I am thanking you because I made it through the day's difficulties. I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles. I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better. I am thanking you because you have not given up on me.
[LaDonna Meredith]