Adrianna here! Lately, I’ve been learning a lot about the Lord’s sifting. The specific phrase first came to mind in a book I’m reading, called The Bait of Satan by John Bevere. Since then, it’s continued to come to the forefront of my mind. When listening to people’s stories or studying the Word on my own, I continue to see and hear of more examples in which the Lord allowed sifting in people’s lives. He’s also reminded me of the sifting that’s taken place in my life.
The word sift means to separate through a shaking process, but more specifically “to go through especially to sort out what is useful or valuable” (Merriam Webster). This is such a beautiful picture of what God does in our lives. When Jesus says He prunes every branch in John 15:1, he is talking of this process of sifting. The entire Bible consists of example after example of God allowing (not creating) hardships for the purpose of pruning/sifting. Sometimes we have to come to the end of ourselves so that we begin to look to the One greater. It’s only by laying down ourselves that we can truly begin to be directed and used by God.
One example of sifting is Jesus’ disciple, Simon Peter. He loved Jesus and dedicated his life to following him, but eventually began to fall prey to pride. As Jesus’ death was approaching, there were several moments where he was acting out of pride and self-confidence rather than humility and the confidence that comes from Christ. Like many of us, though, Peter didn’t even realize he was acting out of his own strength. But God, being rich in love and mercy, allowed a sifting to occur because He knew that Peter would never be able to fulfill the plans the Lord had for him if left to his own strength.
Jesus says to Simon Peter:
“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.” Luke 22:31-32
I love what John Bevere says in The Bait of Satan regarding this scripture:
“Jesus did not pray that Simon Peter would escape this intense shaking to the point of overthrow. He prayed that his faith would not fail in the process. Jesus knew that out of this trial would emerge a new character, the one Simon Peter needed to fulfill his destiny and strengthen his brethren” (pg. 120).
The enemy wants a sifting to occur so that it will break us and our faith, but God allows the sifting so that it will make us stronger by rooting us in Him, thus increasing our faith. While we are being sifted, God removes any desires of the flesh so the only thing remaining is Him. The result of shifting should be a reliance on the Lord and not self.
As I’ve been learning about the process of sifting, the Lord has made it more clear to me a time He’s allowed sifting in my life. I’ve struggled with relationships for most of my life. I’ve always desired such deep and close relationships – which is a good desire from the Lord – but that desire is often left unfulfilled in the ways I want.
Throughout the past year, I’ve seen the ways the Lord allowed those difficulties so that I would know Him as my greatest friend. He wants me to seek Him first and prioritize our relationship over anything. Only from my relationship with God, who is love, am I able to love others and be loved in the way I desire.
At times, He’s even allowed relationships to end in order to bring me to a place of reliance and dependence on Him alone. Without realizing it (like Peter), I was seeking other relationships above God. However, it’s during these times that I’m brought back to my foundation. Each time, the Lord reveals that He is the only foundation that will last. From this foundation, He is able to bear good fruit in me. When we are rooted in Christ’s love, keeping our gaze on Him, we will not be shaken.
“At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.” Hebrews 12:26-27
Love, Adrianna
