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A Sifting Process
"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat ..." (Luke 22:31). Ominous words. The sifting of wheat is not a gentle process. Wheat is forcefully tossed into the air. Chaff, being very light, flies away; and the weight of the wheat brings it back down.
Notice that Satan had to ask first; he couldn't touch Peter without the Lord's permission. And while His purpose was to shake Peter up, God allowed it. Why? Wheat without chaff is much more useful.
As Christians, we all undergo a sifting process. Unexpectedly, our world is shaken up, and we find ourselves up in the air. It is only the weight of our faith that brings us safely back down. As unpleasant-and even frightening as it may feel, it is good to remind ourselves that it is only chaff we are losing in the process-an attachment to the world or anything in it, wrong concepts of who God is and what He will and will not allow in our lives, a reliance on anything or anyone other than the Lord ...
When Jesus warned Peter he was about to be sifted, He didn't say, "This is a trial, Peter. Let's see how you hold up." No. Remember what He said? "But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail" (verse 32). He prayed for him! I find that very comforting. It tells me that before we even know we'll be sifted, our Lord has already drawn near and prayed for us that our faith may not fail. And if He prayed, can we fail to receive what He has asked for us?
It gets better. The reminder of verse 32 says, "And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." He knew Peter would fall flat on his face he'd deny Him. Yet there is a promise in His words. He does not say, "If you turn back," but "When you turn back." When ... Then you will have been made strong enough to, in turn, strengthen your brothers.
When your world is suddenly shaken up and you are up in the air, keep your eyes on your Lord. You will safely land in the hands of the One who will never let you go. And you will have a renewed usefulness-you will have been made strong enough to strengthen your brothers. Because He who promised is faithful.
-Maria Lund