Faith is rarely glamorous. It’s often sweaty, slow, and deeply personal. We love the stories where God shows up in a flash—the lame walk, the storm stops, the door opens. But the message from Acts 14 reminds us that the same God who performs instant miracles also works through long processes that strengthen our roots.
When Paul saw a crippled man listening intently, Scripture says he “saw that he had faith to be made well.” That man’s faith didn’t make sense—it wasn’t logical—but it was real. Faith always starts in the unseen, not in the visible. God calls us to believe before we rise.
Jesus compared faith to a mustard seed, the tiniest of all seeds, yet powerful enough to move a mulberry tree—the tree known for its deep, tangled roots. Those roots represent the stubborn issues in our lives: the cycles we can’t break, the grief that lingers, the fear that still whispers. Sometimes God removes those roots instantly (the “backhoe miracle”), but more often He hands us an ax and invites us to swing with perseverance and prayer. Each swing is obedience. Each swing declares, “I still believe.” Swinging the axe is hot, tiring, messy work, but when the stump is finally gone, the space it leaves becomes room for new growth. That’s how God grows us. He’s not just after your comfort; He’s after your character.
Faith also learns to release control. We pray for healing, breakthrough, or direction, and when the answer tarries, we often blame ourselves or even God. But genuine faith says, “Lord, Your will, Your timeline, Your glory.” It’s not about getting everything we want; it’s about trusting the One who knows what’s best for the whole picture.
True faith doesn’t fear science. The apostle Paul told the people of Lystra that the very rain, harvest, and heartbeat of creation testify of the living God. Science explores the mechanics of God’s world; faith reveals the meaning behind it. The laws of physics are simply the fingerprints of a faithful Creator.
So whether your miracle arrives with a bang or unfolds through months of steady obedience, remember this: the God who saves your soul also cares about your struggles. He’s the Lord of both heaven and hard days. The roots may run deep, but His power runs deeper still. Keep swinging, keep trusting, and keep believing that what He begins, He will complete.
💭 Big Truth: You don’t need more faith—you just need to plant what you already have in the soil of God’s unchanging goodness. 🌿