Sometimes I wonder if I have enough faith. There are days when the cup looks like it will run dry long before the challenges have been dealt with. Periods of illness can drain the cup to the dregs.

When I feel as though my faith were nearly run dry I remember the apostles asking Jesus to increase their faith. I don’t think His response was what they expected. Luke 17:5-6 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

What Jesus offers is a way out. A way through the hard, dry places. He came not to increase our faith, but to offer us grace. He came and died, drained His blood, that the cup might overflow not with wine but love.

Psalms 23:5
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

Our cups overflow with grace. We want to posses sufficient faith in and of ourselves. We want all-sufficient faith to face life’s obstacles. Jesus offers us not mountains of faith, but all-sufficient grace.

When the disciples couldn’t cast out a demon they demanded more faith. In Matthew 17:20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”

What we really need is not the self-sufficiency to move mountains, or uproot tress. We need to trust in the One who ransomed us. Our cup overflows with grace. We need only a little faith.

If I keep bringing Him my very small faith He can replenish me. He can restore and renew me. He will make streams in the desert places of my life. We can become like trees planted by streams of water. The trees with deep root systems don’t blow over as easily. When I feel like I am running dry on faith I need to drink deeply of grace.

Psalms 23:6
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long.