My friend had been experiencing hip and back pain for several years. In 2021, a group of us prayed over her, petitioning God to heal her of this affliction. The friend texted all of us two days later, saying that the pain had indeed ceased since the prayer. At first, she was a bit tentative in her belief that a miracle had occurred. She questioned why she would be deserving of the healing—why she would be worthy of such profound love. Perhaps it was difficult to settle into God’s immense goodness and grace. However, as weeks passed by without a return of the pain, she became confident that the petition had, in fact, been miraculously answered. This hip and back pain has never returned.

God responds to the faith of His children. Typically, though, our faith—i.e., that God will answer our petition—is only a tiny mustard seed. Recurrently, our impulse is to try to earn His blessing—by mustering up big faith, working extra hard at our righteousness, or somehow becoming worthy of His love. However, none of us really have that big of faith, are really that righteous, or have actually earned His love. In His grace, He blesses His followers anyway. He is incalculably generous and good. I would follow no one else.

He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you." (Luke 17:6 NIV)

Not yet convinced? Do you ever struggle with feeling unworthy of love? Do you think this potentially impacts your ability to receive love from God? What would need to happen for you to put some small amount of faith in Jesus Christ—even the tiniest amount?

Already convinced? Do you sometimes pray without any real expectation of a miracle? Do you sometimes pray the same way someone buys a billion-dollar-jackpot lottery ticket—as if the prayer is a mere wish, confined to the realm of fantasy? What would help build a sense of expectancy in your prayer life?