On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see whether perhaps he would find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it. In the morning as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. Then Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Mark 11:12-14, 20-24, NRSV)
Why are we not able to throw mountains into the sea?
Is it because we do not believe?
Or is it because we doubt?
Wait a minute isn’t not believing and doubting the same thing?
No I do not think so. We are led to the understanding that they are opposites from the text above, “…if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe…”. Doubt though is not the opposite of belief, unbelief is the opposite of belief. Doubt is a part of us that lead us to seek out answers and to deepen our understanding.
When Thomas confronted Jesus, Jesus said to him, “do not be unbelieving, but believe!” Doubt was the thing that pushed Thomas to keep coming back. The wonder of Jesus being alive.
We can not move mountains, because it is not God’s will for the mountains to move. You see this verse says that what ever you want ask and it will be given if you only believe. But the biblical witness tells us, that we will get what we ask for when it is inline with the will of God. And if God wills a mountain to move, He does not need me or you to do it!!
So believe, with all your heart, and allow your doubt to push you to become a deeper stronger disciple!
aSacredRebel 