Faith That Moves Mountains – Real Stories of Bold Belief in God

Have you ever stood at a point in your life where the road ahead looked impossible? Maybe you’ve faced a diagnosis that rocked your world. Maybe the bills are piling up and your paycheck isn’t stretching far enough. Or maybe your prayers have been met with silence for what feels like forever.

Jesus once said, “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” (Matthew 17:20, KJV)

That’s a bold promise. But what does that kind of faith actually look like in real life? Not the Sunday-morning type of faith, but the raw, real, gritty faith that holds on when everything else falls apart.

Let’s walk through three powerful stories from the Bible—three very different people who dared to believe God. Their circumstances were messy, their options were limited, but their faith was unshakable. And God moved.

1. Abraham – Faith That Obeys When It Doesn’t Make Sense

Abraham is often called the "father of faith," and for good reason. God asked him to do some pretty wild things—leave his homeland without knowing where he was going, believe for a child in his old age, and even be willing to sacrifice that child on an altar.

That last one? That’s the kind of request that would make any parent fall to their knees in fear.
“By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac… accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead.” (Hebrews 11:17,19, KJV)

Let’s not sugarcoat this. Abraham wasn’t some flawless super-saint. He had moments of doubt. He took matters into his own hands (hello, Hagar and Ishmael). But when it mattered most, he believed God—even when it went against logic, emotion, and human instinct.

What can we learn?

Faith that moves mountains often starts with obedience. God doesn’t always give us the full picture. Sometimes He just says, “Go” or “Trust Me.” And we have to choose whether we’ll step out—even when it doesn’t make sense on paper.

Everyday takeaway:

Maybe God is asking you to forgive someone who hurt you, or to step into a new season that feels scary. Maybe He's asking you to keep believing when nothing’s changing. Abraham’s story reminds us: Faith obeys—even when the why isn’t clear.

2. The Roman Centurion – Faith That Recognizes Authority

Next up, we have someone surprising: a Roman centurion. Not a Jew. Not a disciple. Not someone raised in the Scriptures. But a soldier—part of the empire oppressing God's people.

And yet… his faith blew Jesus away.

The centurion had a servant who was sick and about to die. He didn’t ask Jesus to come and lay hands. He didn’t demand signs. He simply said: “But speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.” (Matthew 8:8, KJV)

This man understood authority. As a military officer, he knew how commands worked. If he gave an order, it happened. And he believed Jesus had that kind of power—not just over people, but over illness, suffering, and death itself.

Jesus responded with amazement: “Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” (Matthew 8:10, KJV)

What can we learn?

Faith that moves mountains doesn’t always need to see with human eyes. It recognizes the authority of God’s Word. It says, “Lord, I believe You can do it. You don’t even have to show up the way I expect.”

Everyday takeaway:

Maybe you’re waiting for a sign. A breakthrough. A clear answer. The centurion reminds us that faith often sounds like this: “Lord, You don’t have to do it my way—I just believe You can.”

3. The Woman With the Issue of Blood – Faith That Pushes Through the Crowd

Now let’s talk about someone most people would’ve ignored—a woman suffering silently for twelve years. She had a bleeding condition that made her not only physically weak, but considered “unclean” under Jewish law. That meant no one could touch her. She couldn’t go to the temple. She was isolated, broke from medical expenses, and likely ashamed.

But she heard Jesus was coming. “For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.” (Matthew 9:21, KJV)

She didn’t need attention. She didn’t need a public miracle. She just needed to get close enough to touch the hem of His garment.

And she did. And Jesus stopped everything. 

“Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole.” (Matthew 9:22, KJV)

What can we learn?

Faith that moves mountains doesn’t wait for perfect circumstances. It pushes through—through fear, shame, disappointment, and discouragement. It presses toward Jesus when everyone else says it’s hopeless.

Everyday takeaway:

Maybe you’ve been suffering silently. Maybe you feel forgotten. Maybe the crowd around you tells you to give up. This woman reminds us: Faith says, “I just need to get close to Jesus.”

What These Stories Have in Common

Each of these people—Abraham, the centurion, the woman—had very different backgrounds. One was a patriarch, one a soldier, one an outcast. But what connected them?
•    They trusted God's power.
•    They took action.
•    They didn’t demand all the answers.
•    They believed against the odds.

And here’s the beautiful truth: Their stories didn’t just change them. They’ve changed us—centuries later—because their faith stirred heaven to move.

Want to grow this kind of bold, trusting faith? Explore our Miracles of Jesus 7-Day Course and discover how Jesus' miraculous power still speaks to us today. It’s designed to strengthen your faith with daily devotionals, guided reflections, and real-life application.

How to Grow That Kind of Faith Today

It’s easy to read these stories and feel inspired—but also a little overwhelmed. You might be thinking, “That kind of faith feels out of reach.”
But faith isn’t a magic superpower. It’s a muscle. And like any muscle, it grows through use.
1. Start with what you have.
Jesus said faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. You don’t need to have it all figured out. Just start with the trust you do have.
2. Speak God’s promises out loud.
There’s power in hearing God’s Word in your own voice. Find Scriptures that speak to your situation and say them every day. Your faith will begin to rise.
3. Surround yourself with faith-builders.
Your community matters. Spend time with people who stir your faith, not smother it. Get around believers who speak life and truth—even when things look bleak.
4. Remember what God has already done.
Keep a prayer journal. Write down answered prayers. Remind yourself of past victories. When new trials come, look back and say, “If He did it before, He can do it again.”

Explore our faith-building journals to help you document your walk with God.

Final Thought: Faith Isn’t Always Loud, But It’s Always Powerful

Sometimes, faith is dramatic—like Abraham raising a knife in obedience. Sometimes, it’s quiet—like a woman reaching out from the shadows. But all true faith has one thing in common: it connects us to God’s power.

Browse our collection of heartwarming gifts designed to uplift and inspire those walking through tough seasons.

If you’re facing a mountain today, don’t be discouraged. You don’t have to climb it alone. Speak to it in faith. Trust the God who made it. And believe that He still moves them—one mustard seed at a time.

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7, KJV)

Sometimes a small act of encouragement can remind someone else that faith still moves mountains.

Need encouragement in your faith journey?

Join our Bible Study Club for weekly devotionals, community prayer guides, and tools to help you grow your faith—no matter where you’re starting from.