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As I was reading through Scripture yesterday, I came across this passage in Matthew 21:21-22. Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go throw yourself into the sea’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Matthew 21:21-22.
Now, if you know me, I am all about prayer. I’ve seen miracles, I’ve seen people healed (both physically and emotionally), I’ve seen attitudes change and I’ve seen a whole lot of people just plain feel better after prayer. The one line in this passage that has always “gotten” me is that our prayer can move mountains. That is a tall order!!
As I was thinking about what this Scripture means, God reminded me of a basketball game that I had attended. It was a very big game and the outcome of the game would determine if the season would continue or be over that afternoon. The stands were absolutely packed and the only seats that my husband and I could find were in the front row right under one of the basketball hoops. As I was sitting there, it seemed that at least fifty percent of the game we were looking at the backside of the referee. Because we were in the very first row we were constantly looking around this referee that was standing RIGHT in front of us every time the ball was on our end of the court.
It got to the point that it became very frustrating to even follow the game (and to be honest, I’m not a huge basketball fan) and I began to have a conversation with God. God brought this Scripture to mind and He explained to me that everybody else could see the game perfectly but because I was in the exact spot the referee stood in front of every time, I was the only one who could not see. The referee was my mountain. The referee was blocking my view. He was hindering my involvement in the game. I was so close to the mountain that I could not see anything else.
I believe that Jesus used a mountain in this passage because mountains block the view of what is behind. They divide. They are difficult to traverse. They are massive.
God wants to us to believe that through our faith in Jesus Christ, He has given us the authority to speak to the mountains in our life and they will be thrown into the sea. It’s easy for God to move our mountains, just like it would have been easy to just move my seat. We have a tendency to make matters that are standing in front of us a way bigger deal than they really are. When they become a way bigger deal for us, for some reason we tell ourselves that they are way too big for even God.
What is the mountain right in front of you blocking your view of your future? Blocking your view of peace? Blocking your view from what is on the other side? What is bringing division in your life? What is too big for you to move on your own?
Jesus is waiting for you to believe that He is capable of moving your mountain. Just ask Him and believe that He is going to do it. Prayer is a powerful tool that He has given us…use it!! Instead of thinking that He can’t, start thinking that He CAN!
