More Lessons from a Mustard Seed

Matthew 17:20

I planted some mustard seeds because I wanted to see why the Lord chose that out of all of the seeds he had created.  I grew up on a farm and have planted thousands of seeds. All of the seed  packets it said that it would take seven to ten days to for the seeds to germinate let alone show above the ground.
The seeds I planted on a Sunday were an inch above the ground by Tuesday!  God showed me that the smallest faith, when "planted" in the fertile soil of a soul, kept watered with the Word, and kept in the "Son"shine will grow quickly.
The seeds I planted in the large pot at home grew to be about a foot tall, were robust and even flowered.  The pot was out in the yard where it was in the elements.  We had some hard downpours of rain and big wind storms this summer.  The plants took a bit of a beating, but thrived.
We were to have a major storm so I brought the pot up to the house and placed it just outside the front wall of our screened in porch under the eves troth for protection.  It survived the storm, but in 2 days most of the leaves had been stripped off by worms.
I may be wrong, but I believe God showed me that trials are good for us and keep our faith strong and healthy, even though we get a bit beaten up while they are being endured.  But if we are placed, or keep ourselves placed, in a "safe" place; the little worms of doubt, disappointment, fear, bitterness, etc. can eat away at that faith and eventually kill it altogether.