Is there anything that has shaken you or is shaking you right now?
Let me give some context for this question. Not everything that goes wrong in life is the enemy, far from it. Most of the time, it’s our own flesh, sometimes other people, but also sometimes Satan.
But we get a glimpse of how the enemy wants to disrupt the men and women of God in Luke 22, verse 31. Jesus singles out Peter. Peter was the spokesman, the leader, the seemingly strong one.
Jesus says, Luke 22:31 Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,
Jesus used Simon, Simon; the repetition indicates something important, something serious the Lord is about to say. Also, notice that He addressed Peter with his original name, not his new, promise-filled-with-power name that Jesus gave him, Peter. Surely, this made Peter think, why is He calling me Simon again? By calling him ‘Simon’ instead of ‘Peter’, Jesus is potentially reminding him of his human weakness— he is not ‘Peter’ when he operates outside of Jesus.
It’s also important to note that whilst Jesus said Simons’s name, presumably as he would deny Jesus and was seen as the leader, this sifting message was to all the disciples as the word ‘you’, used twice in verse 31 is in the plural, in other words, Satan demanded all the disciples that he might sift them.
Peter later learned his lesson here and writes about it in his epistle:
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Satan wanted to devour them and stop them.
The image Jesus chose to explain this, that of sifting like wheat, is painfully graphic. To sift them like wheat meant he wanted to shake them all violently, as one does wheat, to cause it to fall. Our English saying of ‘picking someone to pieces’ or ‘taking someone apart’ has a similar meaning.
Satan would like to bring the disciples to ruin and leave them in pieces, exposing their lack of faithfulness and weakness.
He desired not just to test and play around with them but to destroy them. And he would have succeeded if they hadn’t had Jesus praying for them.
The enemy is no match for Jesus! While the enemy can act as a deceptive adversary, Jesus ever intercedes for us and has power over him.
Be assured, child of God, if you are shaken at this moment, if something has been tough to get through, deal with, or presently is draining you or you feel even breaking you. Be assured and be encouraged, child of God, Jesus, the Son of God, is interceding for you.
Romans 8:34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
Wherever you are today, you can trust Him and lean into Him.
This world is shaking,
But You cannot be shaken,
My heart is breaking
But I’m not broken!
Satan demanded to sift and shake them, but because of Christ, he could not break their faith.
Father, thank You that no matter what happens, we are part of a Kingdom that cannot be shaken. Jesus, we praise You and are comforted by knowing that You are ever interceding for us. Have Your way in our lives as we look to You, Saviour.