Many times “sifting” is used to separate useful products from non useful ones. We can be sifted as people in a way that brings a season of trial and difficulty. Organizations can be sifted. Leaders can be sifted.
When we are sifted, we can really better understand what is the true “weight” of the call of God on our lives and the true measure of faith we bring.
When we go through a “sifting,” we may be able to more clearly see how our strength does or doesn’t hold up. We can see how badly we need a “Helper” to live our journey of faith in God. We are less bold to speak from presumption.
In Luke Jesus told Peter that Satan himself had asked to “sift” him like wheat. Bad news.
But the good news was that Jesus was praying for Peter so that his strength, his faith, would not fail. (Luke 22:31-32) Good news.
No number of “prayer warriors” in the world can compare to the prayers of Jesus Himself. He ever lives to make intercession for us. (Hebrews 7:25)
It’s interesting to me that Jesus didn’t tell Peter something like, “Hey Peter, Satan asked to sift you like wheat, but I told him that he couldn’t get near you.”
No, on the contrary, Satan must have been allowed to go for it.
But Jesus, in his all knowing foresight and wisdom, saw the ultimate good that would come when Peter would make it through to the other side of the trial.
Peter, having gone through the fire and the testing of his faith, would return and “strengthen his brothers.”
So sifting may come as we walk in faith, but the good news is that if we cling to our unchanging God and his promises, we will come out on the other side more useful for His Kingdom purposes and more beneficial to the people he has called us to lead.
