Without a doubt, all of us face trials at one time or another, and it makes no difference if you are a Christian or not. The devil is an “equal opportunity destroyer” who would just as soon destroy you as much as me, it makes him no difference. But it DOES make a difference to him when he runs into someone who has faith and isn’t afraid to use it.


Let’s pick up an account of a day in Jesus’ life. It can be found in Mark 4. Earlier in the day Jesus had taught a parable about the Sower sowing the Word of God, how some hear the Word, and the devil catches it away immediately. And others, hearing the Word endure for a while, but fall away when persecution arises for the Word’s sake, and some let the cares of this world choke out the Word, and they become unfruitful. But SOME, hear the Word of God, and it brings forth good fruit, some thirty, some sixty, and some a hundredfold.

Let’s pick up in Mark 4:35-41, Now remember, it had been a long day, and like anyone else, Jesus was tired. There is a detail in verse 36 that gives us some insight that is not included in the same account in Luke chapter 8. It says “they took Him even as He was in the ship” How was He? Probably conked out sound asleep. Now let’s read it:
35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

I tend to see these accounts as pictures in my mind, and that makes them easy to remember. Here Jesus is sound asleep and a storm blows up, not just ANY storm, mind you, but a GREAT STORM OF WIND which beat the ship and it was full of water, about to sink. Now some of these disciples on board were experienced seamen, and they had encountered MANY such storms during their careers as fishermen, but this one panicked even them, to the point they woke Jesus and said, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And I’ll bet they weren’t whispering it in Jesus’ ear, either, to wake Him gently! I really like it how Jesus awoke, rebuked the wind and said unto the sea, PEACE, BE STILL!

Now, check out verse 40 again, Jesus said, WHY are you so fearful? How is it you have no faith?

In Luke 8:25, it says, And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

Where was THEIR faith? Well, it must have washed overboard in the storm and drowned, just like many of our faith does when severe trials hit. Jesus made sure to tell them that He checked, and found them out of faith, and when your faith is gone, you’re easy pickings for the devil and his crew.

When trials come to YOUR house, what happens? Is YOUR faith built upon the rock that cannot be moved? Or when the flood comes, is your faith washed away? You can’t change what you’ve done in the past, but you CAN change what happens going forward. Faith that’s in your head won’t help you when you’re in trouble. For faith to work, it must be in your HEART. Just quoting scriptures in times of trouble won’t cut it. For faith to work, those scriptures need to be a part of you, down in your heart, just like your backbone is part of you, and it doesn’t come out when trouble comes.

When God’s Word is down on the inside of you, when trouble comes, and you use the Word of God to calm the storm, your friends, family, AND the devil will say, “What manner of man IS this that even the storms obey him?” You’ll just smile and say, “I’m a faith man, that’s what.” (or a faith woman). If you want to ruin the devil’s day, get God’s Word inside so strong that the devil can hit you with his best shot and your reply is, “Did I just feel a fly bump into me?” When Jesus asks you “Where is YOUR faith?”, you’ll tell him, “Right down here in my heart, where You put it.” You’ll make Jesus smile.