“Faith can move mountains, but don’t be surprised if God hands you a shovel” is a motivational saying that has been printed on many images. The saying has been printed in several slightly different versions, and authorship is unknown.
   
“A local church marquis contained the following: ‘Faith can move mountains, but be sure to bring a shovel’” was printed in the Marietta (GA) Daily Journal on March 15, 1978. “Faith can move mountains - but you’d better take a shovel” was printed in the Toronto (ON) Star on May 7, 1989. “God can move mountains, but it helps if you bring a shovel” was printed in the The Post-Star (Glens Falls, NY) on November 17, 1996.
   
“Faith Quote: ‘Faith can move mountains, but don’t be surprised if God hands you a shovel.’ by unknown author” was posted on the newsgroup LIFE Group Devotions on August 12, 2008.
   
       
15 March 1978, Marietta (GA) Daily Journal, “The Functional Faithful” by Nelson Price, pg. 4A, col. 3:
A local church marquis contained the following: “Faith can move mountains, but be sure to bring a shovel.”
 
7 May 1989, Toronto (ON) Star “From heaven to hell and back: Anna’s story” by Lois Sweet, pg. C9:
Slowly, she takes a deep breath. “I believe in the expression: ‘Faith can move mountains - but you’d better take a shovel.’”
 
16 August 1990, The Daily Times (Salisbury, MD), “University to aid Seaford in reviving its downtown” by Tracy Myrup, pg. 2, col. 2:
“Faith can move mountains, but God didn’t say you couldn’t used a shovel,” he (Seaford Downtown Association Chairman Craig Banks—ed.) said. “You have to do things for yourself sometimes.”
         
New York (NY) Times 
IN PERSON; Think Big and Get Those Donations
By GEORGE JAMES JUNE 23, 1996
(...)
“From a soup kitchen to this facility is quite remarkable,” he said. “And although one man doesn’t do it alone, to a great extent he is the guiding spirit. God can move mountains but you better bring a shovel, and he brings the shovel.”
 
17 November 1996, The Post-Star (Glens Falls, NY), “Salon,” pg. B6, col. 6:
My pop used to tell me, ‘God can move mountains, but it helps if you bring a shovel.’”
 
Google Books
Treasure the Truth:
Favorite talks from Especially for Youth, Academy for Girls, Boys World of Adventure
American Fork, UT: Covenant Communications, Incorporated
1997
Pg. 40:
I remember hearing a quote that said, “Together you and the Lord can move mountains, but don’t be surprised if he hands you a shovel.”
   
Google Books
A Christian Day School for Anyone:
A New Look at Christian Day Schools
By Thomas Mohr
Fort Wayne, IN: Acts Multi-Ministries
1998
Pg. 99:
Faith can move mountains, but God expects you to bring a shovel!
     
Google Groups: alt.recovery.na
How do I start my own NA group?
J@mes
4/8/98
(...)
GOD CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS,  BUT YOU GOTTA BRING THE SHOVEL!
 
Google Groups: alt.recovery 
The God debate again
r h
6/7/98
(...)
Like a previous poster said; Faith can move mountains, but you have to bring the shovel. I think it might be the other way around—God will bring the shovel, but YOU have to do the work.
     
Google Groups: alt.religion.mormon
FARMS admits, BoM animals didn’t exist in BoM times
Eric
8/2/06
(...)
Any snide insinuations set aside, God doesn’t just automatically give us everything that we ask for.  Sometimes there is more to be gained in the effort than in the accomplishment alone. A good Christian saying you may be familiar with goes something along the following lines, “Faith can move mountains, but don’t be surprised if He hands you a shovel (http://members.aol.com/BuildaButton/Christian.htm).”
   
Google Groups: LIFE Group Devotions
[LIFE Devotions Group] Matt 18:5 (service)
Rich Reich
8/12/08
(...)
Faith Quote: “Faith can move mountains, but don’t be surprised if God hands you a shovel.” by unknown author
     
Twitter
△⃒⃘shley
@ABCmrs
On a church marquee: Faith can move mountains, but don’t be surprised if God hands you a shovel.
10:17 PM - 2 Jan 2009
 
Facebook
‎Robin Crouse Short‎ to Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
February 9, 2016 ·
Faith can move mountains, but don’t be surprised if God hands you a shovel.
 
Twitter
WS
@wesleysnipes
“Faith can move mountains, but don’t be surprised if God hands you a shovel.” 🙏🏿
2:34 AM - 25 Aug 2017
 
Twitter
Quotes Internet
@QuotesInternet
Faith can move mountains, but don’t be surprised if God hands you a shovel. - Unknown, Author #quote
6:01 PM - 22 Jun 2018