In Luke 22:31, Jesus said, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat." As you may recall, Jesus made this statement in anticipation of Peter denying Him three times as our Lord's arrest and crucifixion were imminent.
This verse became more clear to me recently as my wife and I were working out in the backyard. This year my wife decided to plant a vegetable garden in an open area in the yard, something which she has done on occasion. Unfortunately, the spot she chose for the garden had a very hard soil. Hence, preparing the soil would take much effort with a simple hoe and rake. To say the least, it was a task we was dreading.
In anticipation of this project, although money in our household is very tight, I felt the need to purchase a simple tiller to loosen the soil. What a difference the tiller made! Instead of taking hours to prepare the soil, the tiller loosened the ground within a few minutes. I marveled as the blades churned through the soil with relative ease. You could say the tiller was "sifting" the soil.
Seeing the tiller brought Luke 22:31 to mind. It also reminded me of what I had been through with cancer, especially with chemotherapy. Multiple hospitalizations and multiple blood transfusions. Battles with depression. Extreme nausea. Profound fatigue. Chemotherapy carried me to rock bottom, so to speak, then even lower than that! I was truly sifted all right.
Yet, now that my soil has been prepared, I pray that good crops will appear in my life. I don't wish sifting upon anyone. However, I rejoice in the crops which may be forthcoming.
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