My MS and Faith of the Mustard Seed

I have written nine articles so far with shared ideas of what has helped me in this overwhelming battle with multiple sclerosis. My experiences and successes are shared in the hope that others will be helped as well.

This 10th article is about what comforts and sustains me the most —  my faith. Without it I don’t know how I could function with this disease, or even with the normal pressures of everyday life.

When it came time to give a name to this column, I thought of many cute MS-related titles. “MS in the Fast Lane” and “MS on the Fly” are just two examples. But none of the names lifted me, or gave me the hope I sought. None of the names conveyed the feelings I wanted to inspire with my columns.

Praying and reading my Bible led me to this: “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)

With faith, all is possible

This is what I was looking for: If we only have faith of the tiny mustard seed anything is possible, anything! So “Faith of the Mustard Seed” became my column’s name.

There are so many of God’s promises in the Bible to give us strength and reassurance. Some examples are that God will never leave us, and he will never give us more than we can endure.

One of the verses that is so comforting reminds us that there is no need to worry: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)

We are all in the position of having MS for a reason. I have faith that the reason will be known to us some day, and I have hope that a cure will be found if it is God’s will.

Even though my faith is very strong, I am human and can still get very angry and depressed. It happens when I neglect to stay focused and then forget God’s promises. In times like those, I have to work to regain my direction and remember the verses that give me hope.

I hold tightly to God’s promises, because nothing else can offer me more hope. I have faith that God has control of my life and of this disease. To me, faith and hope go hand-in-hand. Without either, what do we have?

Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today, or its parent company, Bionews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis.