Still Standing

I will take a good old-fashioned warning over a surprise party any day of the week. When I see those road signs that forewarn of the curves ahead, I just can’t help but tune-in and pay attention to whether the sign was correct. I get pleasure in knowing that someone went through the trouble of drawing the right curves on the sign so that there would be no surprises for me. So when the Lord throws a statement out there like, “It’s time for a sifting” my brain goes into high alert status and starts following every single curve ahead.

Since the Lord used our pastor a few weeks ago to give a warning of an upcoming sifting, I cannot even count the number of conversations I have had with congregation members these past few weeks about trials. Some are dealing with really painful and heavy struggles, while others are downright stressed and frustrated. Personally, I feel like every turn I take hits a brick wall lately. The roller coaster of emotions has been overwhelming at times. One moment I’m in the center of the ring jumping up and down like a crazy person screaming at the enemy that my Jesus has the victory, the next moment I’m in the corner of the ring shaking in my boots and calling for my mama.

By the grace of God, I am managing to come to my senses quickly in those latter moments, but I do have to admit that it takes a minute sometimes. I keep questioning the Lord, “What is it that I’m supposed to be learning?” I’ve gone all binding and loosing spirits crazy, but then wondered is that really the lesson I am supposed to be learning? I know I have that authority, but they seem to just come back with a vengeance. Clearly the Lord is using them for a reason because He keeps authorizing them to come back. To be honest, I have truly been at loss as to what I am supposed to do until a moment in prayer the other day.

One of the sweetest families in our church was in the throws of a horrid trial that I personally think nobody should ever have to experience, but, unfortunately, life is life. I was in prayer begging the Lord for words to share with them. I am not the best at dealing with these kinds of situations and find myself quite frequently in those foot-in-mouth predicaments. I just wanted to say what they needed to hear, and the Lord blessed my intentions. He told me “Stand strong.”

These two words not only answered my prayer of what to say to my dear friends, but it also answered the question I had been asking for weeks. “What are we supposed to be learning in these trials?” We are supposed to be learning to stand strong. In Luke 22:31-32 Jesus warned Peter he was about to be sifted, so that Peter would not be surprised when that curve in the road came. Jesus tells Peter that “I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back strengthen your brothers.”

Jesus has prayed for us that our faith may not fail! When the sifting is over nothing matters except the fact that our faith did not fail. Why? Jesus finishes His statement to Peter with that answer. So that we are stronger and will be able to strengthen our brothers and sisters. That’s it. Nothing else. Finite. No more questions asked. I don’t need to keep fighting back. I just need to stand so that I can move forward later and help others move forward with me. Rocky Balboa once said, “It ain’t about how hard you can hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” Sift me all you want Satan; the battle is already won.

Thank you, Jesus for Your prayers. It blows my mind that the creator of the universe is praying for me, and all He wants is to see me come out of this with my faith intact. Thank you for knowing what is best for me even when I think otherwise. Lord, continue to remind me that You have already given me the strength I need to stand. In Jesus Name.