Trial upon Trial!

Reading: Psalm 46

"Simon, Simon, indeed Satan has asked for you,

that he may sift you as wheat" (Lk 22:31)

Almost every sincere child of God, at some time or other in his life, goes through such a trying experience. There are several lessons we can learn from what happened to Simon Peter.

Satan had to obtain permission from Christ to attack Peter. He did so in the case of Job also (Job 1:12; 2:6). Nothing happens to us without the knowledge and permission of our Lord Omniscient and Omnipotent. This realisation is our greatest strength and sustainer at the hour of crisis. God has taught us to call on Him in the day of trouble so He would deliver us (Psa 50:15). But He knows about our situation even before our lips utter the first syllable in prayer.

Sifting of wheat is not over with a single stroke. It's done repeatedly and that in quick succession. So also with trials. They come over us like wave after wave. We know how soon a cock crows a second time after the first. Peter was tempted at least thrice within that short time to disown his Lord. In Job's case, even while someone would be "just reporting" a death or a loss, the next news of this sort would reach him (Job 1:16,17,18). A Tamil proverb says, "It's the wounded leg that will be wounded again!"

God is not silently watching us from a distant Heaven doing nothing. Having granted permission to Satan, the Lord went on with His ministry of intercession for His friend. Our troubles may be innumerable. We will be constantly bombarded by men and our own minds with the question, "Where is your God?" (Psa 42:3,10). But those who have walked frequently through the Valley of Darkness and Death know, "God is a very present help in trouble" (Psa 46:1). This entire Psalm is worth memorising!

Sifting of wheat is just a means of purification. It is to separate the genuine grains from the chaff and the other items that had gotten mixed with it. We need to get rid of so much of useless stuff from our lives. The "weight" of habitual and chronic sins needs to be removed from us so we may run the race victoriously (Heb 12:1). If handled rightly, no trial will leave us without net profit (Heb 12:10,11). After Satan's sifting, Peter was promoted to a greater ministry (Lk 22:32).

Have we trials and temptations, is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; Take it to the Lord in prayer.
(Joseph Scriven, 1819-1886)

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