I don’t know about you, but the idea that Jesus is praying for me is one of the most amazing thoughts…ever.
Many people have told me they are praying for me, and I appreciate every one of the people and the prayers, but to think that Jesus Himself, sitting at the right hand of His Father is praying for me at times is overwhelming.
In Luke 22:31, Jesus tells Peter, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.”
Sifting is part of the process of taking whole wheat kernels and converting it to a more useful form. When you look at it from the perspective of the wheat, it is a fairly violent ordeal. It involves a lot of shaking and the very structure and substance of the kernel is altered considerably. We could say that for Peter, a life-changing experience was just around the corner.
Then Jesus continues in the next verse, “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”
Notice the content of Jesus’ prayer. He doesn’t pray for God to deliver Peter from the trial, or even to make it easier. He prays for Peter’s faith to remain strong.
Why would Jesus pray this?
He had a plan for Peter. This process that Peter was about to undergo was going to be difficult. It was going to cause Peter to fall flat on his face and experience great shame and humiliation. It wasn’t going to be pleasant at all, but something good was going to come of it.
That’s how grace works.
Jesus knew that when Peter had been thoroughly sifted, a conversion would have taken place, one that would leave Peter much better equipped to be the servant God wanted him to be. Jesus told him, when it was all over, to strengthen his brethren. In other words, take what he had learned from the experience and use it to minister to others.
We go through great trials in life, some are excruciatingly difficult. Never forget when that happens, that you have a Savior who loves you enough to pray for your faith to remain strong. You will come through the trial, you will be different, you will be able to strengthen others.
I have been through a number of difficult experiences in my life. I really wouldn’t wish them on anyone, but at the same time, I honestly wouldn’t take anything for them. During those times God taught me and changed me in ways that wouldn’t have happened in any other set of circumstances. It’s not that God couldn’t have taught or changed me apart from the trial, it’s just that I wasn’t ready to receive it.
God wants His grace to flow through you into the lives of those around you. For that to happen, God has to change us.
Just remember that Jesus is praying for you.
That’s how grace works.