He replied, "Because you have so little faith. 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 NIV)

My Story

"Lord, increase my faith through Jesus. Thank you, Amen." Some days, this was all I could mutter during my fight with breast cancer. This prayer filled me with hope and anticipation for a brighter future.

The past 1.5-year battle was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. A lot of it is a blur, but not my prayer of desperation… it still gives me the chills.

The day my hair fell out was devastating. However, after a long cry and a prayer of hope, I felt like maybe a little makeup might help. It definitely helped in that moment of complete grief. It also forced me to take a good look at myself in the mirror that day.

It was a temporary Band-aid; I remember thinking, "I'm more than just my hair." A lot of positive self-talk took place. We need to be a cheerleader to ourselves at times.

Our faith is supposed to grow with us. Thank God for this. If you feel that you are lacking faith, please don't hesitate to ask Him.

Accept That God Already Gave You Faith

"If you allow your FLESH to LEAD you, it will MISLEAD you; submit to God." — Gloria Shalom

God has given everyone the same amount of faith from birth. He doesn't play favorites.

Faith is like a muscle. If you don't use it, it will atrophy. How will you use your treasured gift?

Therefore, is it really more faith that we need, or — since God has already given us all the same amount — restoration?

Restoring your faith doesn't have to be difficult. Just like your diet and exercise will either promote your health or diminish it, applying God's truth as you obey him will promote a stronger faith.

What if others could physically see your faith muscle? Would you look like Hercules or Gollum?

Grow In Your Own Knowledge

"Faith in God will elevate you to next level blessings." — Germany Kent

Relationships take a lot of energy. Even our relationship with the Lord takes energy. Just know that he will never intrude boldly on our lives. He is just waiting behind that next door. His knock will always be gentle. So, when he knocks, will you choose to open it or hide and act like you're not home?

Listen To Christian Music

"The music of the Gospel leads us home." — Frederick W. Faber

Music touches our souls in amazing ways. It affects each of us differently. Our taste in music also can change, depending on what stage of life we are in. We each have some favorite songs that stay in our memories for life. Certain songs can trigger old memories of deep passion, joy, and love.

Songs can take us places in our minds. Don't hold yourself back from the treasured memories of your heart and soul. Turning on some music could bring just the right answers that you have been searching for.

We all need to dance like nobody is watching. Close the blinds if need be. I challenge you to try a new Christian playlist this week. Before you know it, it just might become your new favorite.

Start A Vision Book

"Keep the faith. The vision is always for the appointed time. Be patient, prayerful, and wait for the fulfillment of your visions." — Lailah Gifty Akita

We really must be equipped with proper knowledge and instruction. This knowledge will provide a vision that allows us to see God and His plan for our lives more clearly.

I have journaled for 23 years and counting. The following scripture stuck with me about 10 years ago; I have since continued to follow His word, and have never regretted it.

Then the LORD answered me and said: "Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it." (Habakkuk 2:2 NIV)

Your journal — or vision book — is your own, so make it what YOU want. Mine has evolved from a place of many frustrations, with plenty of irritations, to great strides in my personal growth, faith, and life.

I hope that you will simply pick up a pencil or pen and just start writing on some paper. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. (However, there are some very stylish journals out there.)

Keep it simple at first and see where this might take you. Journaling is an amazing avenue.

Our Faith Is As Big As You Allow

Hang on! God will be thy strength in any act of your pursuit. — Lailah Gifty Akita

Do you allow help from others? Does it make you feel weak? The truth is, it's a sign of strength to be able to ask for help or receive it. Could it be that you're afraid of others letting you down? People will always let us down! Yet God is omnipresent and will never leave us or forsake us.

Abandoning control can be more challenging for some people. It is a symptom of anxiety; a sense of control provides comfort in the known outcomes. This is why it's hard for some people to even allow God to help.

Yet allowing God to help through others will provide opportunities for your faith to grow in the challenges throughout your day. Learning from these moments can restore your faith in remarkable ways.

Nonetheless, restoring your faith in people sometimes takes some elbow grease. Have others let you down lately? Please know that they are truly doing the best that they know how. If they knew better, then they would do better.

It might be a lot of work to restore your faith in people. It's kind of like stripping off the paint from an old table: It's ugly for a little while, but then a fresh coat of paint can do wonders. It's the same with people.

To restore those broken relationships, you might need to strip away layers of hurt and anger. Release them to a higher place — and then try adding a fresh coat of paint, one act of kindness at a time.

Occasionally, we can allow these challenging moments to rob us of the miracles all around us.

I encourage you to shift your attention to the little things around you: the smile from a stranger, the sunset that jolts you into a state of awe, or the cardinal that sits in the tree outside your window… singing of the better tomorrows.

The Bottom Line

Stop wasting your time on things that don't matter. Use the time to better yourself through faith.

We all have 24 hours in a day. How will you fill your days? Be the change that others need.

You can either struggle every step of the way or choose to restore your faith. Don't let your faith lag behind. Do you have some catching up to do?

If you want to have more courage and restore your faith, please take a long glance at yourself in this Mirror of Truth. It might unlock your true inner beauty and faith.