Being Sifted

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." - Luke 22:31-32

Being sifted? What was that all about? You sift wheat by putting the wheat and the chaff onto a thrashing floor which shakes them violently. The wheat falls though the floor and is separated from the chaff. Simon (Peter) was about to be sifted. His faith was about to be violently shaken. After he was sifted, he was ready to be used to strengthen others.

A few points of interest -
1. Satan had to ask permission to mess with one of God's people.
2. Jesus prayed for Simon to not fail the test. NOTICE He didn't pray for the testing to go away!
3. That after it was over, Peter would be stronger.

I have been through some of these sifting moments lately. Satan has been trying my faith in God and others. But he didn't win.

Here is what I've gained from the event -
God uses all things for the good (even the bad ones).
With God all things are possible.
What doesn't kill us makes us stronger.
The way that you respond to the testing makes all the difference.
People are always watching at how we respond under difficult circumstances.
God will never leave us or forsake us.
Above all else love.

I hope that by what I've went through I can be used to strengthen someone else.