“…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.” (Matthew 17:20)

In other parts of the country, autumn is in the air. Leaves are changing, sweaters are coming out of storage, and Pumpkin Spice Latte Season is back. Not in New Orleans, though. We’re still running on faith: faith that cooler days will come, that the worst storms will stay away, and that we’ll get to break out the gumbo pot sooner rather than later.

Faith is often a difficult thing to hold. It’s the waiting. If you’ve been hurt by someone, you may be praying for healing, peace, and the certainty of God’s loving presence—and you undoubtedly know too well that these things don’t happen overnight. They can take years or decades. If you’re struggling though every day, holding on to faith might feel like an impossible task. But I promise it isn’t.  In fact, sometimes, a willingness to get up each morning is all the faith we need.

Jesus told his disciples that even faith as small as a mustard seed was sufficient. Yes, tiny mustard seeds can grow into 6-foot plants in a matter of months. Yes, God can bring great things out of the least impressive pieces of ourselves. But what Jesus never says is how much time it will take. (Probably because he knew it would bum us out.)

A mustard seed can lie dormant in the dirt for 60 years, waiting for the right conditions to grow. Rather than gambling with its own survival and hoping for the best, it can wait decades until it has the right temperature, moisture, and sunlight to grow well. For that little seed, patience is a radical act of faith. So if you’re feeling discouraged in your own healing journey or frustrated by faith, ask God to help you trust that the strength, grace, wisdom, opportunities, and support you need are coming to you. And remember that this small act of faith may be enough.