Is the Farmer's Faith as Strong as A Mustard Seed

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“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.

Matthew 13: 31-32 



I had recently planted a round of microgreens and for the first three to four days they remain in the dark all covered up.  While I was checking them to see if additional water was needed on day two I noticed how the mustard seeds were the first to germinate and were already the strongest.  I instantly started thinking about the parable of the mustard seed and how in Matthew 17:20 Jesus tells us that if we have the faith of a mustard seed we can move mountains.  

It made me wonder why did he reference a mustard seed?  I know of seeds that are smaller than the mustard seed now in this modern day but then again those smaller seeds do not produce at the same level as the mustard seed.
  
Mustard Microgreens

Let me explain.  So we thought that it would be cool to try and not only grow mustard microgreens but also some mustard for salad mix bags.  Well now I have a couple different comparisons on how the mustard seed really does provide a large, stalky plant just from one tiny seed.  The mustard that we have growing in the high tunnel for salad mixes has very large stems.  Every week I watch them get stronger and stronger.  I almost truly want to let it grow to its full potential but we would never be able to do that in the green house knowing just how large they can get.  The mustard seed truly seems to have that power to be strong and steady for the bird nests that are referenced in this parable.  

Mustard Plant

While I was thinking about all this, I got to wondering about my faith.  Is it really as strong as that mustard seed? I saw a video talking about a study of the happiest people and they found that farmers were the happiest people in the world.  We are able to produce, be outside, and accomplish something with our hands and at the end of it all people benefit from our skills.  There is a lot of reward for the hard work we put in. In the midst of all these things that make us happy though are ALOT of struggles, tears, worries, and stressors.  I honestly think that what keeps a farmer going day in and day out is their faith.  Whether it is faith that the seeds they plant will grow, their livestock with flourish and have a successful breeding season, or their harvest yields will be plentiful.  On days that faith may only be the size of a mustard seed because the other stressors are holding us back but in the end we know that no matter what the outcome God will help us through it.  

Does this mean we all have strong faith as farmers?  Absolutely not! There are days where I have absolutely no faith and the evil voices get in my head.  I wonder why we stress so hard, work so hard, and try to end up losing stuff to frost, pests, wildlife, weather, and so many other factors.  Sometimes my biggest question is why do we do all this to be criticized.  Let's face it the days are long on the farm.  The other day I started at 7:30am and was finally putting the kids to bed at 10pm.  I was wiped out mentally and emotionally and my faith was really taking a backseat to the everyday grind.  That is part of my questions with God...How do I take 10 minutes to work on my faith and understanding of his word, when I don't get 10 minutes to myself.  So even though farmers are the happiest people in the world, I don't think we can be without a strong faith that no matter what the challenge of the day is, the Lord will see us through it. 

Honestly though, you don't have to be a farmer to have strong faith like the mustard seed.  After I really dug into the verses before and after the parable of the mustard seed it has more to do about creating disciples with strong roots. The mustard seed creates strong, steady stalks with deep roots just by planting that one little seed, so if you go out today and plant one little seed of faith in someone's heart you might start the roots for their faith to grow.  So just like us farmers planting all these seeds to reap a great harvest, so are you when your called to plant seeds in another's heart.  Don't miss out on planting seeds, take the opportunity when God calls you do it.  

Go out and be farmers today and plant a seed of faith in someone's heart, 

Always Farming with Faith & Family, 
Amanda 


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