Faith to Move Mountains

The Pacific Northwest has the most breathtaking mountain range I’ve ever seen, the Cascades. This range of mountains extends from British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. Mt. Rainier is the range’s highest mountain, peaking at an elevation of just over 14,000 feet.   From my balcony in Seattle, 54 miles away, I can see the snow-capped top of Mt. Rainier. On extremely clear days, this massive mountain can be seen from Portland, Oregon, and Victoria, British Columbia. “The Mountain,” as it is often referred to, is simply majestic and enormous. It seems to float in the sky on its throne of clouds, ruling over the city beneath it. As serene as the mountain may appear, Mt. Rainier is also one of the most dangerous active volcanoes in the world.

Many of us view the obstacles and problems in our lives as gigantic mountains waiting to erupt and impossible to overcome. These mountains can bring fear and unbelief into our situations and cause us to become discouraged, doubtful and give up. What we once thought was possible for God is now impossible. This way of thinking and perspective must change in order for us to have the kind of faith to speak to the mountain, “be thou removed” and it be removed. We must hold onto and find encouragement in the truths of God’s word. He tells us in 2 Timothy 1:7 that, “God has not given us a spirit of fear.” Fear is not from God. It creeps into our thinking when mountains appear impossible to move. In Matthew 19:26 He reminds us:

“With man this is impossible, but with God ALL things are possible.”

I am one who always tries to figure out how God will do it. How will He move these mighty mountains out of my path? I’ve never been able to figure it out and I am quite certain I never will, but the mountains have always been removed in one way or another. What I have figured out is that I must trust and have faith in His ways, and rely on Him completely.

If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove. Matthew 17:20

Does this mean that Mt. Rainier will literally be removed because of my faith? Not so sure, but I do know that God’s ways are not our ways. He chooses to accomplish things in our lives, in this case removing the mountains His way. He has the power to move any situation out of our path, He has the means to provide the solutions to our problems and He has the ability to empower us with the strength to overcome and rise above the obstacles in our lives. If we have the faith of a mustard seed, I am confident that the mountains in our lives will be removed.

Do you have faith that God can move mountains? What mountain are you facing right now?