Sifting Trials

“You are those who have stood by Me in My trials.” (Luke 22:28) The context of that verse is the Lord’s last meal with His closest friends. He knew what was about to happen to Him in just a few short hours. I’m certain the Lord's voice was rich with the emotions of gratefulness, even of thanksgiving. But this time as I read the passage my mind shifted direction. I imagined Jesus looking at His 21st century disciples and saying with equal emotion: “You are those who have stood by Me in your trials.” Please reread that last clause. Don’t miss the subtle change. “You are those who have stood by me in YOUR trials.” Most of us know of Christians who’ve suffered terrible tragedy, even unspeakable personal and family catastrophes. Some have endured life-events that we could never want to imagine could happen to anyone. And it was too much for them. Their spirits shattered, their souls rent in ragged pieces, they threw away their faith, they turned their backs and walked away from their God. They would not stand with their Lord in – and because of – their trials.  Do you know people like that? Oh! I do. Please! Pray for them. The Shepherd still searches for His lost sheep, His desperate sheep, His shattered and scattered sheep. But there’s something else in this Last Supper conversation that we must not miss. After the Lord thanked them for staying with Him in His trials, He turned to Peter: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Christian: Never think the devil doesn’t want to sift you like wheat, to break your faith, to twist his arrows in your gut until you bleed out. But also never forget – your Savior prays for you just like He prayed for Peter. In your mourning, in every gut-wrenching sorrow, He prays for you. Moment by moment. And when you come through to the other side of the tragedy, He says to you what He said to Peter: Strengthen your brethren. Listen! God will never forsake you. He will never abandon you. He will never leave you. Please, trust Him. With all your heart, trust Him.  Don’t rely on your own perspective.* God’s ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts. His purposes and plans are as far above ours as heaven is above earth.** The sifting that comes to us does not need to be fatal to our faith. God has irrevocably promised that He will never permit the devil to sift or test ANYONE beyond their strength. God will always provide the way out so that we may be able to get through it.*** Christian: Stand by Jesus in the midst of your trials and even your disasters. Stay close. And, (and this too is very important) if you’re one of those who’ve left His side, even long ago do what Peter eventually did. Return to your Savior. Return to the One who has never stopped loving you. He never closes His arms to anyone who wants to come home. * see Proverbs 3:5 ** see Isaiah 55:8-9 *** see 1 Corinthians 10:13