A Story Inspired by Mark 11:22 for the Children of The Church of Eleven22
By Bill Conley
Moral to the Story:
Faith is believing God can help, even when we can’t see how.
We don’t need to be big or brave—just trust that God is.
God hears every prayer, no matter how small.
When we have faith in God, amazing things can happen.
In the middle of the bright, green
forest stood a tall tree called the Tree of Eleven22. Every Sunday
morning, animals from all over the forest came together beneath its wide
branches.
They came to sing, to listen, and to
learn about God.
At the top of the tree, nestled in a
branch shaped like a little stage, lived a wise and friendly bird named Joby
Owl.
Joby Owl had round glasses, soft
feathers, and a kind heart. When he spoke, even the bees stopped buzzing to
listen.
One sunny morning, Joby Owl
fluttered out and looked down at the crowd of forest friends.
“Today’s message,” he said, “comes
from the Bible—just five words, but they are full of power.”
He looked right at the little ones.
“Have faith in God.”
“Mark 11:22,” he added with a wink.
Theo the bear cub tilted his head.
“That’s it?” he whispered to his squirrel friend.
“That’s it,” said Joby Owl. “But
those words can change everything. When you have faith in God, big things can
happen.”
Theo didn’t fully understand—but he
was about to.
That week, Theo wanted to give his
best friend a gift—his favorite shiny blue stone with the golden swirl. But
when he looked in his hollow tree trunk, it was gone!
Theo’s heart dropped. “No, no, no…
it has to be here.”
He searched under his leaf blanket,
behind his honey jar, and even in his rain boots.
Nothing.
He sat on the floor and remembered
Joby Owl’s words.
“Have faith in God.”
Theo closed his eyes, folded his
paws, and whispered, “God, I really want to find my stone. I don’t know where
it went, but You do. I have faith in You. Amen.”
Later that day, while walking near
the daisy patch, something shiny caught his eye.
There it was—his blue stone, resting
near a mushroom!
Theo grinned and jumped up and down.
“Thank You, God!”
He knew that was no accident.
The next morning, Theo’s little
sister was scared. She was supposed to dance in the forest parade but didn’t
want to leave the den.
“What if I trip?” she sniffled.
Theo thought for a second. “Let’s
pray and have faith.”
He held her paw and whispered, “God,
please help her feel brave. We believe You’re with her. Amen.”
She wiped her nose, stood up
straight, and walked out smiling.
At the parade, she twirled and
skipped without a single fall.
Theo cheered the loudest.
A few days later, dark clouds
covered the sky. The animals were planning their big Forest Festival—with
games, treats, and music.
“What if it rains?” a bunny cried.
Theo looked up and said, “Let’s
trust God.”
He gathered his friends under the
big tree.
“God,” they prayed together, “we
believe You can hold back the rain. Please help us enjoy the festival, but we
trust You no matter what. Amen.”
And wouldn’t you know it?
The clouds stayed—but the rain never
came. Not until the very last game was over and the animals had packed up.
Everyone clapped and cheered.
“God heard us!” they shouted.
Theo smiled and said softly, “Have
faith in God.”
That Sunday, Theo brought his shiny
blue stone to the Tree of Eleven22—not to show it off, but to remind himself of
how God had helped him.
When Joby Owl saw the stone, he
smiled.
“That’s a beautiful reminder of a
big truth,” he said. “Faith isn’t about always having the answers—it’s about
trusting that God does.”
Theo nodded. He felt something
strong in his chest. It wasn’t pride—it was faith.
He knew now that even bear cubs
could believe big.
Moral Poem:
When things feel scary, lost, or slow,
Just bow your head and let God know.
He hears your voice and guides your way—
Have faith in God every single day.
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