This article is republished from Dianna Hobbs’ “Your Daily Cup of Inspiration,” one of the Top 100 blogs for women of faith. To get more inspiration like this, visit YourDailyCupOfInspiration.com.

My sister Alesha and my 2-year-old niece Azoria dropped by my house for a visit last week. I was so excited! It’s the first time I’ve seen either of them since Alesha relocated to Atlanta several weeks ago.

During the visit, I noticed that Zori, as I like to call her, had grown even more and learned lots of new words. Don’t kids get big so fast? I remember when she was a tiny baby who couldn’t hold her own head up, let alone walk and talk. It honestly seems like only a few days ago that Zori was taking her first steps in my living room. That moment was monumental and so special. My children and I cheered and celebrated as she waddled and took a few shaky steps without toppling over.

One of the toughest things for Zori to overcome, however, just like most babies, was fear of falling. In her early days, even though she had the ability to take steps, she hesitated because she didn’t trust herself yet. Nowadays, the cute-as-ever little tyke is ripping and running everywhere with no confidence issues whatsoever. I love it! She just makes her auntie’s heart light up.  

Whether we are babies or adults, some things are only possible for us to do when we believe we can. I like to say, where faith is lacking, failure dominates—something that was evident in Matthew 17:14-20 when Jesus’ disciples failed to cast the evil spirit out of a boy possessed by a demon. Thankfully, Jesus stepped in and set the boy free.

Well, after the Savior loosed the boy from the shackles of bondage, an interesting conversation ensued. The disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

According to verse 20, Jesus said, “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.”

Jesus used the example of the mustard seed which would have made perfect sense to His disciples who lived in an agrarian society and were quite familiar with different types of plants and seeds. By connecting a natural meaning to a spiritual principle, it made it easier for them to see and understand what Jesus was saying.

A mustard seed, though tiny, grows rapidly and produces a big harvest. Similarly, faith, even if you start out with a small amount, has the ability to grow and produce a mountain-moving harvest. Essentially, Jesus told His disciples that a little bit of faith goes a long way.

It’s important to note that in verse 20, when Jesus said the disciples had “so little faith,” He actually uses the Greek word “apistia,” which means “unbelief” or “unbelieving.” So the disciples’ problem wasn’t that they didn’t have enough faith to cast the devil out; in this situation, they lacked faith altogether. They didn’t believe. And clearly, there is a fundamental difference between a little bit of faith and none at all. Sadly, the disciples approached that moment with unbelief, so they were defeated.

Having established that, here’s what I want you to get: just as the disciples failed to believe when they were confronted with an attack of the enemy, if we are not careful, we will make the same mistake. We will be intimidated, fearful, and trapped in a cycle of defeat despite having the equipping power of the Holy Spirit living within us. And that would be such a shame.

Friend, life presents challenges to us all. We face health complications, money problems, family struggles, career challenges, mental and emotional issues, controversies and roadblocks, spiritual attacks and warfare. But none of these “mountains” is any match for our faith. When you believe, the obstacles have to get out of your way. When you tap into the mountain-moving faith you possess, situations must change. When you dare to push doubt aside and place your confidence in God, the impossible becomes possible for you. So then, don’t doubt. Believe only.

To help you access your mountain-moving faith, I’m stirring the words Jesus said in Mark 9:23 NLT into your cup of inspiration, which says, “‘What do you mean, ‘If I can?’ Jesus asked. ‘Anything is possible if a person believes.’”

As you drink down the contents of your cup, tell your mountain, meet my faith—and watch it move.