He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, 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. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20, NIV
When George Washington Carver believed he had received a mediocre education at his school in Neosho, Missouri, he continued to pursue his education, relocating from one Midwestern town to another. He eventually graduated from Minneapolis High School in Minneapolis, Kansas. However, acquiring his high school diploma did not halt his pursuit of education. Accepted to Highland College in Kansas, but then rejected once the administration learned of his race, Carver sought encouragement from the Milholland family to continue pursuing his interest in higher education.
In life, it is necessary to surround yourself with others who have the faith to support and encourage your goals and dreams so that you do not give in to the temptation to quit, accept rejection, and die of disappointment. When performing a healing miracle for Jarius’ daughter, who all had believed was dead, Jesus dismissed the mockers, and only kept those with faith in the room (Mark 5:40).
It takes faith to see the fulfillment of dreams! If we have faith, we can see the miracles of God in our lives and others’ lives. We can see Him manifest our dreams and desires right before our eyes. Those who believed Carver would never be admitted to college did not share his faith to accomplish his dream. They missed out on the opportunity to support this young man who became one of the most prominent scientists and inventors of his time. Likewise, those who believed Jarius’ daughter was dead had no faith she could be saved. None of them could participate in, or experience, her miraculous resurrection.
What will you and your colleagues accomplish with your unwavering faith this school year? Surround yourself with educators and administrators who have the faith to see the impossible become possible. Stretch your faith and let it produce miraculous results for you, your students, and your school this year.
Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief. Amen.
Copyright Stacey D. Reed.
If you’ve enjoyed this devotion, Stacey’s book, Morning Musings: Weekly Encouragement for the Educator’s Soul is available for purchase here.
