"Move mountains? How can my faith move the mountain called 'Tricare paperwork'? I am just a mom and a military spouse," I screamed at God years ago. We found out in the middle of October that my husband had orders to report to Germany on January 4th. Most offices closed the week of Thanksgiving and the week between Christmas and New Year's. So our nine weeks shortened to less than seven. The challenge of getting the military healthcare system to allow us to go to Germany with my husband caused the screams. Multiple appointments to prove my asthma should not stop us from moving in two months, more for each child, and still his orders did not change.
Looking back at that time, my feelings of defeat and despair overwhelmed me and sent me crashing to my knees in prayer. I cried out to God to move the mountain. Nothing we did changed the plans; only God could do that. "But God…" became my favorite saying as we watched the paperwork move quickly through the system.
My PCM knew me well. She wrote letter after letter stating she had not seen me for asthma. Finally, someone in the web of bureaucracy read it and changed the NO to yes. We could go with Dave; we would not have to wait and join him later. I turned to Matthew 17 to encourage me in my faith to move this mountain.
He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20-21
God conquered our first 'Tricare Paperwork' mountain. Each of my kids has personally seen that same mountain move. It is a huge mountain that we don't see physically but feel its effects. When it peeps over the horizon, our response is to fall to our knees in prayer. We ask for strength, faith, and wisdom to keep our mouths shut and let God work.
Faith moves mountains!
The second candle of the Advent wreath is called the Faith candle. It grows the light on the wreath by joining with the Hope candle. My daily prayer is for my family's faith to grow as we approach Christmas Day.
Every day in the military, God grows my faith in His love, provision, and plan. Sometimes, it feels like we are traveling through a desert to find Jesus like the Wise Men did many years ago. When they saw the star in the sky, they left their lands, family, and friends to travel to find him. Their faith pulled them onwards to worship the King of Kings. The military pulls us on to grow where God plants us.
The Bible does not tell us where the Wise Men came from or how many there were. They left their homes to travel many miles following a star. We don't know who traveled with them or how long it took them, but we know they did not give up. Their faith kept them moving towards Bethlehem, seeking the King.
As we light the second candle to remember the faith it took to find Jesus, we light it counterclockwise from the first candle towards the pink candle. We go the opposite way around the wreath to show we are different from the world.
Our faith reminds us to be salt in the world, stand out, be different, and be believers. Our faith moves mountains. God used a star to move the Wise Men, and He uses military orders to move us. When we seek Jesus while we're on the move, we get to watch Him move mountains and grow our faith. This enables us to shine His light in every place we go.
Seeing God move in our lives, experiencing Him move mountains we could not, grows our faith. Sometimes, God calls us to move mountains around us; other times, we get to watch God move mountains. When we focus on our calling, we remember we will meet new challenges daily. It is not easy, but our faith helps us to shine God's light to everyone.
Scriptures to strengthen our faith:
Matt 2:1-12
Micah 5:2, 4
Luke 2:1-7
Luke 1:26-33
Mark 9:23-25
Hymns to sing or listen to:
We Three Kings
O Little Town of Bethlehem
O Come All Ye Faithful
Questions for discussion:
1. Have you ever seen mountains move? If so, share the story.
2. Look up Romans 10:17. How can you put this verse into practice?
3. What mountains do you think the Wise Men overcame?
4. How can you share your faith with those around you?
5. What area of your life do you need God to grow your faith?
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