“If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.” — Matthew 17:20
But what did He really mean? Can faith really move mountains? explores this deeper.
We’ve all heard it: faith in God moves mountains. But what happens when the mountain doesn’t seem to move? Sometimes it feels like the mountain hasn’t moved an inch, no matter how hard we pray or believe.
How do we keep faith alive when the answers don’t come? How do we keep trusting when the mountain stands unmoved?
Jesus Said: Say to the Mountain
Jesus didn’t just tell us to believe for a mountain to move. He told us to say to the mountain.
“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.” — Mark 11:23 (NKJV)
There is a story in the Bible where the disciples had just seen Jesus curse a fig tree—and the next day, it was withered from the roots.
They were amazed at both the power of His words and the speed of the result.
That’s when Jesus explained:
“Have faith in God. . . . Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” — Mark 11:22–24
In other words, Jesus calls us not just to pray quietly—but to pray boldly. To speak His promises aloud. To believe that God is working, even when it looks impossible.
Does This Apply to Us Today?
Absolutely.
Mark 11 wasn’t just a moment in history—it’s a teaching for every believer.
Here’s what Jesus was showing us:
- First – Pray believing—without doubting.
James 1:6–8 reminds us:
“When you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” — James 1:6
If we pray without belief, we shouldn’t expect results. God honors wholehearted, unwavering faith.
- Second – Pray boldly—speak courageously.
Jesus invites us to pray with boldness, to believe in God’s power over the impossible (Luke 1:37). It doesn’t mean we control God or command outcomes—it means we trust His authority and align our prayers with His will.
It’s acknowledging that the same God who breathed the world into existence is bigger than any problem we’re facing.
It’s declaring, “Lord, I believe You’re greater than this mountain, greater than this struggle, greater than anything standing in my way.”
Bold prayer doesn’t mean we’re demanding.
It means we’re confident in who He is.
Faith isn’t about “naming and getting” whatever we want.
It’s about trusting the God who created everything, even when we don’t understand the process.
If you’re looking for encouragement on bold, confident prayer, check out Power of Prayer in Christianity: Boldly Approaching God.
Ecclesiastes 11:5 – A Humbling Reminder
“As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.” — Ecclesiastes 11:5
This verse humbles me every time I read it.
As a medic, I was trained in how to deliver babies—we studied every step of the process.
And yet, even with all that knowledge, there’s still a mystery to it.
We learned that, biologically, a mother’s body should recognize the fetus as a foreign object and reject it.
But somehow, it doesn’t.
That alone is one of the unexplained wonders of life—a built-in miracle we still can’t fully grasp.
If we can’t even explain something as fundamental as how life forms and survives in the womb, how could we possibly expect to understand all the ways God is working behind the scenes?
We’re limited.
God is not.
Faith means trusting the Creator even when we don’t have the answers.
We analyze. We predict. We try to control. But faith?
Faith steps forward without seeing the whole picture.
It surrenders control.
It trusts the One who sees the end from the beginning.
Think about that — the end from the beginning.
The Officer’s Faith: Just Say the Word
In Matthew 8:5–13, a Roman centurion came to Jesus—not for himself, but for his servant.
And he said something profound:
“Just say the word, and my servant will be healed.” — Matthew 8:8
He trusted Jesus’ authority the same way he trusted his soldiers to follow commands.
He didn’t need Jesus to show up physically. He didn’t need proof.
He believed Jesus could do it from a distance.
And Jesus marveled at his faith.
“Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” — Matthew 8:10
That’s the kind of faith we’re called to—faith that takes Jesus at His word.
Faith That Moves Mountains (And Sometimes Moves Us Instead)
Maybe the mountain hasn’t moved.
Maybe it’s moving in ways you can’t see.
Or maybe—it’s you God is moving.
Faith doesn’t depend on outcomes.
Faith depends on trusting God’s heart.
It’s okay to ask questions. It’s okay to wrestle.
But faith chooses to believe anyway.
It stands on what you do know:
- God is good.
- God is faithful.
- God is working, even when you don’t understand.
“Help Me Believe”
If you’re feeling like the man in Mark 9:24—
“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” — Mark 9:24
—you’re not alone.
I slip up here more often than I care to admit.
Reading about the centurion’s faith inspires me every time I read it.
I want that kind of faith.
But honestly?
Sometimes, I feel like maybe I need to ask God again, wondering if maybe He didn’t hear me the first time.
There are days I feel like I’m failing God because my faith feels weak.
I find myself wondering if my prayers are too small—or if my faith is even smaller.
But then I remember what Jesus said in Matthew 7:9–11
“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
That verse reminds me:
First — I am a Child of the Most High God — His Child.
God isn’t annoyed by my asking.
He’s not rolling His eyes or turning away.
He’s a good Father who loves to give His children every good gift.
And even when my faith feels shaky, He invites me to keep coming to Him.
Sometimes faith isn’t about feeling strong.
It’s about bringing your weakness to Jesus—and trusting in Him and His promises.
“Lord, help me believe. Help me trust You, even when I don’t understand. Help me speak to my mountains.”
Because faith is more than wishing.
Faith is praying boldly, believing fully, and trusting God completely.
Final Thought: Speak to the Mountain—Then Trust the One Who Moves It
Jesus invites us to speak to your mountain.
Not because our words have magic power—but because our faith and prayers are rooted in His power and for His glory.
Because faith isn’t about knowing the plan.
Faith is about knowing the Person who holds it.
That’s why I keep holding onto this truth: faith in God moves mountains, even when we don’t understand the timing or the process.
If this message spoke to you, I’d love to hear from you:
What “mountain” are you trusting God with right now?
How has God strengthened your faith in a season of waiting or doubt?
Feel free to share your story in the comments below.