Sifted

Luke 22:31-34

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,  but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”  Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.”  Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”

Our family is reading through the Bible chronologically this year and we recently read through all four gospels.  We have been waking early to read with Nic before he leave for work each morning.  While only half of the family could even remotely be considered "morning people", it has been a good exercise for all of us, regardless for our affinity for mornings.  There has even been a decrease in the good morning growls over time.

Nearly two weeks ago we read the above passage where Jesus predicts Peter's denial from Luke, and again in the other gospels.  In Luke's gospel I was so challenged by the mental picture of God allowing Satan to sift us like wheat.  And I was so encouraged by Jesus prayer for Peter. That though sifted, his faith would not fail. And then his subsequent charge to Peter to strengthen his brothers.  What an exhortation that was to my own heart in troubled times!  

Nic had had an early meeting at work that morning and I was reading to all the kids that morning.  I took that opportunity to challenge the kids with the same charge Jesus gave Peter, that when they find themselves sifted that their faith would not fail and that as God has kept them through the sifting, they would continue to strengthen others.  Throughout that day I reflected on times when I had felt sifted and had known the steadfast love of God and seen His faithfulness to keep my faith from failing.  

I had no idea that I would find myself sifted again so soon.  For three months we had quietly rejoiced in the gift of expecting a new baby next May, a precious life growing within.  Though we had faced two traumatic pregnancy losses in the past year and a half, we were thankful and hopeful that God would bring this baby into our arms.  And then the sifting came.  We learned this past Tuesday that the baby had died within the past week for unknown reasons.  There was no heartbeat where there had been a strong heartbeat and wiggly baby just two weeks earlier.  Our baby was brought home, not into our arms, but into the arms of Jesus in Heaven.   In anguish, I returned again to this passage, trusting that Jesus was praying for me, too, that my faith would not fail and that I would turn and strengthen others one day, too.

Our hearts are grieving, even as we know that God has His purposes for allowing sifting in our lives.  Though we mourn, we know that His purpose is to keep our faith from failing and to display His glory in all things. Without Him we are not able to continue without losing hope, but with Him we are able to turn again and strengthen the others.  Please pray for healing of our hearts and for healing within my body and also rejoice with us, that we can know that these light and momentary afflictions, though they feel like heavy burdens, are preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.  (2 Corinthians 4:17)