Highland Church of Jamaica, New York

Peter had made this boast “Lord, I am ready to go with you, both to prison and to death.” (Luke 22:33) The Lord know’s the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end. He knew more about Peter than Peter knew about himself. He could see the boasting of Peter, his repeated denials before the teenage girl and others around the fire. The Lord saw the shame, but He also saw the bitter tears, the repentance and the restoration.

Jesus said, “I have prayed for you.” He knew what was about to happen, yet He didn’t stop Peter from boasting or from denying Him. He allowed him to make those mistakes. He didn’t get angry or resentful, instead He prayed for him. Thank God for the high priestly prayers of our Savior. Peter did eventually return; turning out to be a stronger man, humbled by his failure and ready to strengthen others with humility and compassion born out of painful failure.

Like Peter, we too undergo times of deepest testing and trials. While we are fearful and frustrated, we should remember that the Lord Jesus is now our high priest in heaven. God allows us to be sifted by Satan, the world and the flesh, but He prays for us that we would through these, come out and reach others.

Peter was sifted by Satan and he fell. Yes there are moments when the best of Christians will fail or fall. These siftings sometimes may be necessary even though they are not pleasant or easy to endure. They may come about by the foolish choices we make or the consequences of somebody else’s actions. It could be a spiritual, emotional or physical sifting. These siftings could mean broken friendships and relationships. What ever the cause may be…God still prays.

Falling isn’t fun for the child, but a wise parent knows that falling always comes before walking. We do not pretend that our trials never happened or that Christians never suffer. But our Lord kept us in his heart and in his prayers. The desire of our Lord for us is greater for us than the desire of Satan: God is at work in our trials. All things truly do “work together” for our good and for God’s glory.

There are times when godly character can only be developed in the crucible of life where we are prone to be sifted by Satan. And though we might fall, our faith will not fail. That is because Jesus prayed for us.

I know many of you who are being sifted one way or another. Some are being sifted in their emotions or in their spirit and even in their physical conditions. There are times when God allows this either to sharpen your faith or be strengthened, or simply that you would turn more to Him than ever before.

Our faith will not utterly fail, why? BUT GOD!

Though we stumble and fall, God’s love is firm because his purposes are eternal. Our salvation rests not on our performance but on God’s unchanging character.

"AND WHEN YOU ARE TURNED BACK". Oh thank God for that conversion, that turning back to God. That sifting that Satan meant to destroy your faith actually turned you back to God with a greater faith and love than ever before. Nothing we say or do can ever separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:38-39).

Has Satan been sifting you? Child of God, remember, Jesus has been praying for you. Your faith will not fail if you know that God wants the best for you and of you. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.