One thing I really love about Jesus is that he requires us to have very little faith in order for him to work in our lives. Okay, some might say that’s heresy, but it’s true.

Having faith can be really hard. It’s always easier to follow the world’s standards, to take matters into our own hands, to just do what everyone else is doing.  As humans, we are messy and imperfect, we sin and fall short of God’s standard.

But the crazy thing is? He loves us anyway.

And, he can take the smallest bit of faith and do extraordinary things with it.

Matthew 17:20 says, “‘You don’t have enough faith,’ Jesus told them. ‘I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.’” NLT

Something that the church doesn’t often tell you: you don’t have to go all in with Jesus the moment you decide to follow him. It’s not required to immediately change every area of your life upon accepting him. You don’t have to become perfect before coming to God.

All he wants is that tiny mustard seed of faith. All he’s waiting for is that first yes.

Because once you take the first step, you start learning who God really is. And he’ll never require perfection, or even great faith. Yes, he wants you to trust him fully, but he also is patient and will wait as long as it takes for you to grow in your faith.

Faith is so much easier said than done. I can say I’m a person of faith, I can say I believe in Jesus, but what about when shit hits the fan? Do I still trust that God will get me through whatever trial I’m facing? Do I believe that he’ll provide for me when I see no way out? Do I obey him when he leads me away from something (or someone), believing that what he has in store for me is far better than anything I could’ve manifested on my own?

Faith can start small. All Jesus needs is a tiny seed to grow a great forest.

A good example of this is the popcorn story.

One day I was running around doing errands when I came across a specialty popcorn store, and the cravings-monster came out full force. I had to have that popcorn. As I did my errands, I was dreaming of what I’d get. Chocolate caramel? Savory cheese? Both? I was more excited to the popcorn store than I was to buy a backpack for an upcoming backpacking trip.  

When I went to the store, I was met with disappointment. There weren’t any lights on and the sign in the window read “closed.” I got out of the car to further inspect unable to accept reality. It was Sunday. The place had to be open.

The store didn’t open for another hour. The sugar-monster wasn’t pleased. I thought about going to the Whole Foods nearby for a snack fix, but I could feel the pull of the Holy Spirit, telling me, “no.” Okay?  

Instead of fighting it, instead of trying to make it happen, I trusted God. It didn’t make sense to me why it felt like he was preventing me from getting a snack, but I surrendered to his guidance all the same.

So, I went home and ate lunch. I forgot all about the popcorn until later that day. I went to the kitchen and opened up the fridge, and…

There was a giant container of chocolate popcorn sitting on the middle shelf.

Miracles do happen!

I checked the label, and it was from the same popcorn store that I had gone to earlier.

This was crazy…how could this be?!

As it turned out this specific popcorn was being sold in a liquor store of all places, and my dad just happened to be there. The plot thickens: My dad bought the popcorn, thinking it’d be a good birthday present for my grandpa, but he ended up munching on it himself!

And that’s when I got what God was trying to tell me.

I put a little bit of faith in God even when I didn’t understand it.  

I wanted that popcorn, and when I couldn’t get it I was willing to turn to something else. I wanted to make it happen, fully believing that I knew the best way for myself in this situation. But God had something bigger in mind.

What felt like a small sacrifice was also that tiny kernel of faith.  

When God stopped me from caving to the cravings, that was no small feat. It was by the power of Holy Spirit that I was able to overcome temptation and obey. I took that one small step, I said yes to God. I trusted him to get me through it, and he not only helped me, but he also provided for me far beyond what I was imagining for myself.

I was thinking a small bag of popcorn. God gave me an entire bucket.

And that’s how it is with faith, I thought as I munched happily munched on the on the milk and white chocolate caramel coated kernels. All it takes is a mustard seed. Or a popcorn kernel. A tiny bit of true, unwavering faith in the Creator of the universe is enough for him to turn around and give you the world.

God wants to know me and to guide me through life. Sometimes – okay, most of the time – his way doesn’t make sense, especially in those moments when I’m totally convinced that my way is better. But God is so much bigger than any of my puny human dreams. God delivers on his promises when I step out in faith and trust.

All he needs is that tiny kernel, that first step, that one, “yes,” to change your life. But he’s waiting for you. He’ll never force you to do anything, but he’ll wait as long as it takes. And when you do step out in faith, that’s when things shift. That’s when minds and hearts are healed, when financial burdens are lifted, when families are reconciled.

That’s why it’s called faith. It’s making the personal choice to believe in a love that can’t be seen.

Give Jesus a mustard seed of faith, and he’ll move mountains for you. Or give Jesus a popcorn kernel of faith, and he’ll move a tub of popcorn into your fridge. Ya know, whatever works.