When faith meets forgiveness, mountains are moved.

In Mark 11:20–26, we are given a powerful reminder of the authority of faith, the necessity of prayer, and the vital connection between forgiveness and our relationship with God. This moment in Jesus’ ministry is both symbolic and practical. It reveals the spiritual power accessible to us through faith, while also challenging us to examine the condition of our hearts, especially in regard to prayer and forgiveness.

The Withered Fig Tree Offers a Visual Lesson

"As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots" (Mark 11:20)

The fig tree that Jesus cursed just the day before is now dead from the roots up. This wasn’t merely about a tree, it was a living parable. The fig tree, often used in Scripture as a symbol for Israel (see Hosea 9:10, Jeremiah 24:1–10), had the appearance of life and fruitfulness but produced nothing of value. Jesus’ action is a sobering warning against fruitless religiosity. A life full of outward appearance, but lacking inward faith and obedience, will ultimately wither.

A few days ago, I walked around my lawn and sprayed for weeds.  I even walked across the street to the township owned property and took care of the weeds that have been growing up on the curb and the edges of the sidewalk.  I must say, it was quite gratifying to see them wilted and withered the day after I sprayed.

Peter was shocked when he saw the condition of the tree that Jesus had cursed:  “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered” (v. 21). It’s as if he didn’t expect Jesus’ words to have such a direct and tangible effect. But Jesus doesn’t focus on the miracle itself; He redirects the disciples to something deeper, specifically, the kind of faith that makes the impossible possible.

“Have Faith in God”

This is the heart of the lesson Jesus was teaching. Jesus said, “Have faith in God” (v. 22). That may sound simple, but this command reaches into every corner of our lives. True faith is not in our ability to believe strongly enough, or in the mechanics of prayer itself; it is rooted in the character and power of God. To have faith in God is to trust in His goodness, His timing, His wisdom, and His sovereignty.

Jesus then spoke a bold truth: “Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes… it will be done for him” (v. 23).

Mountains in Scripture often represent large, immovable obstacles. Jesus wasn’t encouraging a spectacle of magic, but a posture of faith that does not cower before seemingly impossible circumstances. Whether it's a broken relationship, an illness, a financial crisis, or a spiritual stronghold, Jesus tells us to speak in faith, believe, and trust that God can move what we cannot.

Believing Prayer

Jesus continues, “Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (v. 24). This verse has been widely quoted and sometimes misunderstood. It is not a blank check for selfish desires. The kind of prayer Jesus is referring to is one that is saturated in God’s will and rooted in His promises. This kind of believing prayer flows from intimacy with the Father, trust in His character, and alignment with His purposes.

Notice the wording: believe that you have received it. That’s past tense. It calls for a faith so confident in God’s faithfulness that you act as though the answer is already on its way, even before it arrives. It’s like planting a seed with certainty that the harvest will come.

God may not always answer in the way we expect, but faith believes that He will answer, and that His answer is always right.

Forgiveness and Faith Go Hand in Hand

Then Jesus adds a condition that many overlook: “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you” (v. 25).

Faith and forgiveness are not separate issues. Jesus made a point to connect our relationship with God to our relationship with others. We cannot harbor bitterness or grudges and expect unhindered communication with our Father. Unforgiveness creates a blockage in our spiritual life. It keeps us tied to pain, pride, and resentment.

If you are standing before God in prayer but holding onto unforgiveness in your heart, Jesus says, let it go. Release it. Forgive the person who has hurt or offended you.  Not because the other person deserves it, but because you have been forgiven.

Jesus is not saying that God’s forgiveness is earned by ours, but that our willingness to forgive is evidence that we truly understand and have received God’s grace ourselves.

The Life of Faith

So, how do we apply this teaching to our everyday walk with Christ?  There are two spiritual practices that really get my attention in this passage, and maybe they catch your eye as well.  As I contemplate the words Jesus spoke, I see the complementary challenges to PRAY BOLDLY and FORGIVE FREELY.  These challenges work well together and produce healthy fruit in our spiritual lives.

PRAY BOLDLY – God honors prayers that are full of faith and aligned with His heart. Don’t be afraid to ask Him for big things. Bring your burdens, intercede for others, ask for healing, and pray for transformation. Believe He hears and responds.

FORGIVE FREELY – Is there someone you need to forgive today? Don’t let bitterness steal your joy or hinder your prayers. Release them to God. Forgiveness may not change the past, but it changes your heart.

I fully recognize that you may be facing something today that feels too big, too stuck, or too broken. But remember Jesus’ words: “Have faith in God.” He is able. He is faithful. And when we come to Him in believing prayer, with hearts full of grace and forgiveness, we step into the kind of faith that changes everything.

So stand today, not in fear or doubt, but in faith. Speak to the mountain, and trust your Father to do what only He can do.

Which struggle is bigger for you?  Faith or forgiveness?

Faith in the Power of God

"So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." (1 Corinthians 2:5)

We live in a world that often celebrates human wisdom. Some of the bestselling books are in the self-help genre.  Some of the most popular thought leaders are online influencers who preach a false gospel of man-centered theology.  Their message tells us that if you want to succeed,  you must trust your intellect, trust your strategy, or trust your own influence. But Paul, writing to the Corinthians, offers a very different foundation for life and faith.  He encourages us not to place our faith in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Paul didn’t try to impress the Corinthians with eloquent speech or human reasoning. For some reason, he was actually a little intimidated by them and nervous around them (1 Corinthians 2:3).  Even still, he deliberately avoided using persuasive techniques that would draw attention to himself rather than to Christ. Why? Because he didn’t want their faith to be built on the shifting sands of human opinion or personality. He wanted it to rest solely on the unshakable power of God.

This verse challenges us to ask: Where is our faith anchored? Are we trusting in clever arguments, popular voices, or our own ability to reason through life’s challenges? Or are we relying on the power of God, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead and is at work in us today?

Human wisdom changes. What’s praised today is questioned tomorrow. But the power of God never fades. His strength, His truth, and His promises remain constant. When our faith rests in Him, we are rooted in something eternal.

This also reminds us that the gospel itself is not about human achievement but divine intervention. We aren’t saved by understanding everything perfectly.  We’re saved by trusting the One who holds all power, Jesus.

If walking in faith has been a challenge for you, please examine the nature of your faith a little closer.  Maybe your faith has been resting in what other people say.  Maybe your faith has been resting in what you can figure out on your own.  But biblical faith trusts God for what He says and what He alone can divinely accomplish.  Trust Him.  He is faithful, and He will never fail.

The Call to Persistent Forgiveness

"Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” (Luke 17:3–4)

When Jesus taught His disciples about the nature of real forgiveness, He gave them a command that stretches the boundaries of human patience.  Jesus called them to practice persistent, repeated forgiveness. 

Jesus began with a strong word of warning:  “Pay attention to yourselves!” That’s significant. Before we try to correct someone else, Jesus reminds us to first examine our own hearts. Pride, bitterness, and resentment can easily take root if we’re not careful.

Jesus then spoke about confronting sin and extending grace. “If your brother sins, rebuke him.” This isn’t an invitation to harsh criticism or judgment, but a loving call to accountability. We don’t ignore sin in others, especially within the body of Christ. We speak truth, but we do so with the goal of restoration, not condemnation.

But the heart of this passage is the radical call to forgive, repeatedly, over and over. “If he sins against you seven times in the day…and says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” In Jewish tradition, forgiving someone three times was considered generous. But Jesus goes further and gives the example of forgiving someone seven times in one day! And in Matthew 18, He extends it to seventy-seven times. The point isn’t the number. It’s the posture of the heart.

Forgiveness isn’t about keeping score; it’s about keeping grace flowing and operating in a posture of mercy.

This kind of forgiveness reflects the heart of God. How often have we returned to Him, again and again, asking for His mercy? And each time, He compassionately receives us. Jesus wasn’t asking us to do anything He hasn’t already done for us.

Forgiveness doesn’t always mean trust is immediately restored, or that consequences disappear, but it does mean releasing the offense and choosing not to let bitterness take root. Forgiveness is an act of obedience, even when our feelings haven’t caught up yet.

Is there someone you need to forgive, again? Someone who has let you down, but is seeking restoration? Ask God for the grace to reflect His mercy, and remember that persistent forgiveness is the mark of a heart that understands the gospel. We forgive, because we’ve been forgiven.

When sincere faith in Jesus meets generous, gospel-saturated forgiveness, mountains really are moved.  It’s a miraculous thing to witness, and only the Lord Himself could inspire such a thing.

© John Stange, 2025