Sifted like Wheat: When Spiritual Warfare Sanctifies Us
Six months after the adoption of three of our children was complete, our home burned to the ground in the middle of the night. While we lost all our material possessions, everyone was safe, and for that we thanked the Lord. Still, all nine of us were uniquely broken and wounded, struggling to come to grips with this being our new reality—people who had survived a house fire. As we processed this traumatic loss, our family had many conversations about why the Lord would allow this to happen, and if he was still good. These conversations naturally flowed into the reality of spiritual warfare, particularly surrounding the fresh permanency of three children in our home—and how it played into this catastrophic event.
Six months after the fire, my husband Andrew—an excavator with a spotless safety record—was driving to a job in the semi-truck with our six-year-old son, Zach. Zach is the oldest of the three children we adopted, and Andrew was using the time they had together as an opportunity to gently disciple him: teaching him about what it really means to live for Christ.
They arrived at the job, and after Andrew had checked around for powerlines and other dangers, he flipped the switch on the semi, prompting his twenty-five-yard dump-trailer to lift in the air and dump its load of topsoil. When the trailer was almost near the peak of its incline, the entire rig abruptly tipped on its side. In an instant, the semi-truck and trailer smashed to the ground, landing on the passenger side of the semi—the exact seat where Zach was sitting.
There were no injuries.
The power lines Andrew had carefully considered were not hit. The pole was in the small margin of space between the semi tractor and trailer. The truck landed on the gas main situated on the side of the road, but it did not explode. Somehow even Andrew’s body didn’t smash against Zach as they were thrown toward the ground.
Both events—the house fire and the semi accident—were real, physical things with scientifically explainable origins. Yet, they felt like specific attacks on our family, targeted toward us in the very season we had adopted children into a Christian home.
In the years since these events, we have encountered a steady stream of circumstances in our lives where we have felt the enemy of our soul bolstered against us, and yet the Lord has strengthened us through each one.
The Evil Against Me
Sometimes, we recognize when the devil is at work in our families and in our homes. His attacks are plain and present when we are obedient to something the Lord has called us to do. Often, we dodge one obstacle after another thrown in our path to discourage us. Anyone who has ever tried to rush a family out the door for church on time understands. We know that we “do not wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against authorities, against powers, against the cosmic forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12).
At other times, it’s less obvious when Satan is working. You set out to bless a friend and your day unexpectedly becomes extra difficult. You fall sick the week you plan to host an event—one that was designed to be an encouragement to the body of Christ—making preparations more challenging. “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed, perplexed, but not driven to despair: persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Cor. 4:8–9). In the examples I mentioned above, this verse has brought encouragement and fortitude—helping me to press on even when it feels like I’m fighting an uphill battle to do something fruitful for the Lord.
Shortly before his crucifixion, the Lord gave Peter a warning, “Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat” (Luke 22:31). Soon after this warning, Peter denies three times that he knows the Lord (succumbing to Satan’s temptation), despite the Lord assuring him that “I have prayed for you” (Luke 22:32). Though he stumbled, repeatedly, Peter ultimately returned to the Lord.
When wheat is sifted, the inedible chaff is removed from the edible grain. This is a rough process. Satan is constantly working, forcing us to wrestle against his unceasing desire to thwart any good, kingdom-minded work God has prepared for us. I’ve heard it said that “if things are going smoothly, we need to examine how we are living our lives—are we truly seeking to serve the Lord?” We shouldn’t be surprised when good things are difficult!
It is important to note, however, that not all hardships we endure are a result of spiritual warfare. It is wise for us to ask ourselves several questions when we encounter hard circumstances. Could this difficulty be a result of my own sin? Is this the result of living in a fallen world? Or is Satan trying to deter me from a good and holy thing? Often we’ll need others, our brothers and sisters and spiritual leaders, around us to help us sort through the answers.
For Our Good
When believers come under spiritual attack there are multiple things at work. Satan seeks to destroy our good efforts, while our sovereign Lord is only allowing him to go so far—simply to test our faith (Job 1:10).
After the death and resurrection of the Lord, he is with his disciples and questions Peter—the one who adamantly swore he wouldn’t betray the Lord. Yet almost immediately thereafter had denied even knowing him. The Lord asks of him, “Do you love me?” He poses this question to Peter three times—the same number of times he had denied him before his crucifixion (John 21:15–17). Through this questioning, the Lord was nudging Peter to consider his failures, his devotion, and if he could be a useful disciple. Both our intentions and our perseverance are tested through spiritual warfare. How far are we willing to go? Will we remain faithful?
When my husband and I were called to adoption, we fought through many hard things: the serious illness of a foster child with a grim outlook, constant conflict with the agency and biological parents, even loved ones who were questioning what we were doing. Yet we felt called, and thus, we pressed on. It wasn’t easy. But it was worth it, knowing we were fulfilling God’s will in our lives!
Our faithfulness, in spite of challenges, pleases Him. He speaks to his Father about us, “I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.” (John 17:9) Our Lord is praying for us. He is petitioning the God of the universe on our behalf! Peter speaks of Christians as those, “who by God’s power are being guarded through faith” (1 Peter 1:5). Our savior is protecting us from the power of Satan and sin!
The Lord may permit Satan to attempt to trip us up, watching to see if we will keep moving forward for him. He tells Peter that Satan demanded to have him, to sift him like wheat, yet the next verse states, “But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail” (Luke 22:32). Satan truly is active. But the Lord remains sovereign, allowing this test to sanctify us and ultimately draw us closer to himself.
Remaining Faithful
I cannot, with certainty, explain why God allowed some of our hardships. However, I am confident that the Lord was using them to grow us in our faith, to draw us closer to him, and to recognize that while we are fighting, we don’t fight alone. The Lord will never call us to something that leads to resistance from the devil only to leave us on our own. We can trust him to stay with us. He asks us to remain steadfast and faithful to him amidst the struggle.
Throughout our adoption process, the Lord used much adversity, even aspects of spiritual warfare, to point us back to him. After much refining, we are now able to look at things through a different lens. We see the humanity of our kids’ biological parents. We recognize our own sinful hearts. And we witness the grace that God extends to all of us. It’s been painful, but sanctifying.
We must go through this purifying process in our own lives to form within us the faithful obedience the Lord requires. We can praise him as he uses trials in our lives—refining and sanctifying us to become more like him.