I have great respect for the wind. Its awesome power can destroy something that has taken a lifetime to build. One puff from a vicious storm could wipe out your life here on earth as well as your possessions. I want to be warned when something that dangerous is headed in my direction so I can run for cover!

There are times when an unannounced, violent wind will suddenly appear and catch us off guard; but usually meteorologists, with their sophisticated instruments, can give ample warning of an oncoming storm. If you heard, over the news service, a hurricane warning for the area where you live, wouldn't you want to make some preparations? Perhaps you would stock up on food, get batteries for your flashlight, oil for your lamps, and wood for the fireplace. You might want to board up some windows, and, if you live near the ocean, go inland to a safer location.

There are other kinds of storms that will surely come that are also violent and often unpredictable. I am not referring to the wind and the rain, but rather the storms of life! Jesus said, "In the world ye shall have tribulation" (John16:33). You can count on it! Have you made preparations for the stormy trials of life?

Just as we would need to stock up on things like food, water and blankets to help us get through a natural disaster, there is something we should have on hand in order to survive the storms of life. It is the one thing that is essential for every day of our lives, but the time we need it the most is during a storm. We all have some of it, but we could use much more. Perhaps we should get stocked up, for we will be glad later on if we take the time now to check our inventory to see if we have an ample supply on hand. Also, we need to make sure we know how to use it, because it is dangerous when used the wrong way.

I am speaking of FAITH; that is what we need in order to weather the storms of life! Faith is more powerful than the strength of the wind!

There are three kinds of faith mentioned throughout the Bible. We can see the three kinds in action in a little boat caught in a storm on the sea of Galilee. The first kind was vulnerable and was overcome by the storm; the second was a mighty faith that instantly overcame the storm; and the third was so magnificent that the violent storm could not touch it--it was so glorious that nothing could affect it.

One evening when Jesus and His disciples were beside the Sea of Galilee, He said to them, "Let us pass over unto the other side" (Mark 4:35). While they were out to sea, there arose a great storm; and the waves beat against the little ship so hard it filled with water. The disciples panicked, and who could blame them? Jesus was not afraid; He was so relaxed that He was asleep on a pillow in the back of the boat. Here we see two of the three kinds of faith displayed, the first kind in the disciples and the third in Jesus.

The terrified disciples rushed to Jesus and awoke Him. They were all trying to speak to Him at the same time. One said, "Lord, save us: we perish." Jesus replied, "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?" Another cried out, "Master, master, we perish." Then another said, "Master, carest thou not that we perish?"

First, Jesus arose, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. Then, He spoke these three things to His disciples: "Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?" and "Where is your faith?" (Mat.8:25,26; Mark 4:38-40; Luke 8:24, 25).

I don't want to even think about how I would have acted if I had been on board that little craft. I still remember how frightened I was when I was in a storm at sea over forty years ago. The faith of the disciples was put to the test during that great storm, and it failed because it was misplaced. They used their faith, but they put it in the wrong place: their faith was placed in the words of the storm. The sound of the wind and waves spoke to them saying, "We will destroy you!" Earlier that evening the Lord had spoken to them, telling them they were going to cross over to the other shore, but they believed the sound of the wind and the waves rather than the voice of Jesus.

But there was one on the boat who had perfect faith. It was Jesus. That monster storm had no more effect on Him than a summer breeze. While all the others were having a panic attack, He was asleep in the back of the boat! He never doubted His Heavenly Father's word. He knew nothing could harm Him before His appointed time to be sacrificed on the cross for the sins of mankind.

Jesus promised all of us who belong to Him that we are going to Heaven's shore. He did not say there would be no storms in life along the way, but He did tell us not to fear, because He is with us and will never leave nor forsake us! He is more than in the boat with us--He is living in our hearts!

If you have received Jesus as your Savior and you believe you may not make it to Heaven, you are listening to the lying wind of the devil rather than the words of God. Jesus said that ". . . whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). You are going to Heaven--you can count on it!

There was nothing wrong with the faith of the disciples; what was wrong was how they used their faith. In legal terminology, lawyers often state how something was or was not done in "good-faith," which indicates that something can be done in "bad faith." But there is no such thing as bad faith; all faith is good, only it can be used in a bad way.

The first kind of faith revealed in the boat in the storm was the faith of the disciples. Even though it was misplaced, it still was good. Faith is not to be taken lightly for it is a wonderful gift from God. The Bible teaches that "God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith" (Rom.12:3). God has entrusted this kind of faith to everyone, even to those who do not know the Lord. He also has given all mankind freedom to choose how to use it. Oh, how we, with this freedom of choice, have misused this mighty gift of faith! Can you imagine how it looks in the sight of God when we place our faith in a man, or in a religion, or in money, rather than in Christ?!

The second kind of faith was displayed when Jesus spoke to the wind and the sea and said, "Peace, be still." When the disciples saw this kind of faith in action, they knew how awesome it was and to whom it belonged. The Bible says, "They feared exceedingly, and said to one another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" (Mark 4:41)

This kind of faith is different from the kind that has been dealt "a measure to every man." It is not given to us to use as we choose. We do not have the kind of faith that can stop a storm or heal the sick. It belongs to the Lord, and He may put it upon or send it through anyone anytime He chooses. If a person claims to have it at their disposal, don't believe them! It is given only as the Holy Spirit wills (1Cor.12:11).

We see this mighty faith in action all throughout the Bible. It came upon Moses as he lifted up his rod and stretched out his hand over the sea and parted the waters (Ex.14:21). It came upon Samson when he placed his hands upon two pillars and pushed down a colosseum (Judg.16:29). It came upon Elijah when he called fire down from heaven to wipe out a company of enemy soldiers (2Ki.1:10). These men of God knew that kind of faith did not come from them, and after they experienced having it used through them, they didn't try to capitalize on it to build a self image or to gain the approval of men.

This kind of faith is the same that came, unexpectedly, upon Peter when he approached a man who had been crippled all of his life, sitting on the ground, begging at the temple gate. It is supernatural faith given by the Holy Spirit at a specific time for a special purpose. It has nothing to do with the faith of the believer; it could come on someone who does not even know the Lord. It is not controlled by the person. It does not make a child of God more spiritual, regardless of how many times they have experienced it being used through them.

When it came upon Peter, he said to the man who had never walked, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk" (Acts 3:6). What was given to the man was a touch of this supernatural faith, which not only caused him to walk but to leap and praise God!

My wife and I have a friend who, about seven years ago, was healed of cancer. The Lord spoke to her heart and told her He was going to heal her. He gave her the faith to believe it, and she was healed. She now says, "I don't have that kind of faith; at the time, it just came upon me!"

Also in that little ship caught in the big storm was the third kind of faith. It was revealed by our Lord as he was sleeping in the back of the boat during the height of the storm. This kind of faith is not given to all; it is exclusively for the children of God. It is not a gift of the Spirit but rather a fruit of the Spirit (Gal.5:22). It does not grow in us; it is perfectly full grown and we grow in it. It is available through our inheritance purchased for us by Jesus on the cross.

It is the faith of Jesus, and circumstances do not affect it; that is why He could sleep in that storm. Can you believe that we who belong to Christ have access to this kind of faith?! It has already been given to us; it is one of the most important and one of the most unclaimed benefits in our inheritance!

We who belong to Jesus are familiar with the first kind of faith, the kind everyone has, for we have used it to believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. We have used it to believe that He bore our sins on the Cross of Calvary. We have used it to call upon His name and be saved, and we continue to use it every day of our lives, for the Bible says, "The just shall live by faith" (Rom.1:17). Some of us have also experienced the second kind of faith, which comes upon us unexpectedly to bring forth a miracle. But it is the third kind of faith that we need more of in order to weather the storms of life.

Paul and Silas were in a marketplace when an angry mob came upon them like a storm. Their clothes were stripped off, and they were beaten and cast into the inner dungeon where their feet were clamped into stocks. What effect did it have upon them? At midnight the other prisoners heard them praying and singing (Acts 16:22-25).

The Prophet Habakkuk displayed that same kind of faith when he said, "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the God of my salvation" (Hab.3:17,18).

Do you want more of that kind of faith to get you through the storms of life with a peace and a joy that defies logic? Well . . . you have got it! It has already been given to you; it is in your Father's will, part of your inheritance in the estate of Christ. It is right there waiting for you to use and enjoy for the REST of your life!