“And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” – Luke 22:31-32 (NKJV).
In biblical times, wheat was sifted through a sieve by shaking it rigorously so that the impurities that clung to the grain during the threshing process would separate from the good, usable grain.
In the same way, the devil seeks to sift believers, as he tried with Peter, by using periods of intense testing or trials to shake us and separate us from our faith. The attacks of the enemy are always primarily targeted towards our faith in God and our convictions about Him.
However, Jesus did not leave us defenceless. Just as He prayed for Peter that his faith should not fail, so does He always make intercessions for us before God (Luke 22:31, Hebrews 7:25). Hence, the first step to overcoming the attacks of the enemy on our faith is to know and trust the one who has saved us once and for all (Hebrews 7:25).
Secondly, we must understand that Jesus never promised us that there would be no trials. However, He promised to always be with us to help us, strengthen us and guide us (John 16:33). Moreso, knowing that God causes all things to work together for good for us (Romans 8:28), we can consider the trials we face as opportunities for great joy. When our faith is tested, our character, perseverance, hope and endurance are being developed (James 1:2-4, Romans 3:5).
Furthermore, we are instructed to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might because it is the one whose strength is little that fails in the day of adversity (Ephesians 6:10, Proverbs 24:10). The Lord has blessed us with His armour by which we can stand firm against all strategies of the devil and resist him (Ephesians 6:11-17). So, gear up!
Lastly, As we strengthen our faith, we are called to support and encourage others in faith. We must continually consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24). As each of us does his/her specific work, we help one another grow so that the whole body of Christ is healthy and growing and full of love (Ephesians 4:16).
Dear believer, you are not alone in the experience of diverse trials (1 Peter 5:9). Moreso, the sufferings of this present time are only temporary and are nothing compared to the glory that will be revealed to us (2 Corinthians 4:17-18, Romans 8:18). So, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, stand firm against the devil and boldly declare that greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).
Glory!
Bible Reading Plan: Romans 3-4