The Power of Small
The Kingdom of God: Growing Beyond Our Expectations
Have you ever felt like God wasn't working fast enough in your life? Or wondered why His plans seem so different from what you expected? Jesus addressed these very questions through two simple but powerful parables about mustard seeds and yeast. These short stories reveal profound truths about how God's kingdom operates in ways that often surprise us.
What Does the Mustard Seed Teach Us About God's Kingdom?
Jesus told His listeners: "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."
This tiny seed - so small you can barely see it on your fingertip - grows into a massive shrub that can reach 10 feet high and 15 feet around. Jesus uses this dramatic transformation to illustrate a fundamental truth about His kingdom.
God's Kingdom Grows Beyond Our Expectations
The Jewish people listening to Jesus expected a political, military kingdom that would overthrow Rome and restore Israel's power. But Jesus had something much bigger in mind - not just transforming one nation, but the entire world. Not conquering through force, but conquering sin through His death and resurrection.
We face the same limitation today. As humans, we think linearly - we solve problems within our own capabilities and timelines. But God doesn't work linearly; He works exponentially. He's not thinking addition like we are; He's thinking multiplication.
Consider Abraham and Sarah's story. They waited decades for God's promise of children to be fulfilled. After years of disappointment, Abraham's prayers changed from excitement to discouragement. But God took him outside and said, "Look up at the sky and count the stars if you can. So shall your offspring be."
Stop Timing God and Start Dreaming With Him
When we put God on our timelines and He doesn't follow our schedule, we either lower our expectations or become disappointed. Instead, we need to get out of our "tents" and look at the vastness of God's creation to remember His power and faithfulness.
This means praying with an open heart but without expiration dates. Pray boldly for your children, your spouse, your circumstances - not just according to what you think is possible, but according to God's will and power.
Why Can't We Control God's Kingdom?
There's another layer to Jesus' mustard seed parable that His original audience would have immediately understood. In Jewish tradition, gardens were supposed to be orderly and neat, with appropriate spacing between plants. Holiness was achieved through order and separation.
But mustard plants are invasive. They overtake other plants, send out shoots everywhere, and attract birds that scratch and peck at everything. A Jewish gardener would never intentionally plant a mustard seed in their orderly garden.
The Kingdom Is Desired but Uncontrollable
This tension perfectly illustrates God's kingdom. People loved Jesus' teachings and compassion, but religious leaders were uncomfortable with His methods. He healed on the Sabbath, associated with the "wrong" people, and disrupted their orderly religious system.
We face the same temptation today. It's easy to love Jesus and some of what He says while trying to keep Him contained in certain areas of our lives. We compartmentalize our faith, following Jesus safely by picking and choosing which parts of His Word we'll obey.
Stop Containing God's Kingdom
Jesus calls us to stop confining God's kingdom to specific parts of our lives and let Him take over completely. Let Him into your prayer closet, but also your living room conversations. Let Him see your Internet history, your calendar, and your wallet.
This "messy mustard tree" needs to take over your whole life - the good and the ugly, your successes and failures, your public worship and private struggles.
How Does God's Kingdom Grow When We Can't See It?
Jesus' second parable addresses another crucial aspect of His kingdom: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about 60 pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough."
Anyone who has baked with yeast knows the process. You mix the ingredients, and then... nothing happens. At least, nothing you can see immediately. You walk away, come back, check - still nothing obvious. But slowly, quietly, the yeast is working, penetrating and transforming the entire batch of dough.
God's Kingdom Grows Beyond Our Perception
Many people come to church expecting immediate transformation. They surrender their lives to God and expect to be "fixed" right away. When nothing seems to change after a few weeks, they become discouraged and may even walk away.
But Jesus wants us to understand that His kingdom works like yeast - slowly, quietly, and often imperceptibly. Real transformation doesn't happen overnight. God isn't interested in just modifying our behavior; He wants to transform our hearts.
Focus on Heart Change, Not Quick Fixes
True joy comes when your heart is deeply rooted in Christ's love, not dependent on circumstances. This happens little by little, one day at a time, as you plant God's Word in your heart and pray to Him consistently.
God works through small, faithful acts over time. A church that started 40 years ago with about 20 families in rural St. Charles County now has multiple campuses and reaches people as far away as Kenya and Greece. But it happened through quiet, consistent ministry - food pantries, Christmas plays, benevolence work - one seed at a time.
What About the People You're Praying For?
If you're praying for someone to come to faith and not seeing results, don't lose heart. Whether you're struggling with family situations, job issues, sickness, or lost friends you want to see come to Jesus, remember this truth: little becomes great when God is in it.
You have no idea what God may do through a single seed planted in faith. Keep planting seeds, keep praying, keep sharing your faith, keep being Jesus to them. The Holy Spirit's work may be hidden, but He is active and growing something that will eventually bring healing and transformation for God's glory.
Life Application
This week, challenge yourself to stop putting God on your timeline and start dreaming with Him. Choose one area where you've been trying to control God's work or where you've lowered your expectations due to disappointment.
Begin praying boldly again - not just for immediate circumstances, but for generational impact. Let God's "messy mustard tree" kingdom take over more areas of your life that you've been keeping compartmentalized. Trust that He is working even when you can't see it, like yeast slowly transforming dough.
Ask yourself these questions:
Where have I been trying to time God instead of trusting His timing?
What areas of my life am I still trying to keep "orderly" and separate from God's influence?
How can I be more patient with God's slow but sure work in my heart and in the lives of those I'm praying for?
What bold prayers did I used to pray that I've stopped praying due to disappointment?
Remember, God's kingdom grows beyond our expectations, beyond our control, and beyond our perception. Trust Him to do immeasurably more than you can ask or imagine.
