TRUST THE LORD TO KNOW

Luke 22: 31,32

And the LORD said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat; but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not. And when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

The "wheat" in this verse, was Simon's self-confidence. Self-confidence must yield to the LORD GOD and all trust be placed in Him. The attack of Satan on Simon was to destroy his faith, but JESUS prayed for him and his faith did not fail but his self-confidence was shattered. Faith comes from GOD, trust is our act and our choice. Belief and trust are twins, they work together, they are our choice; Faith is a direct gift from GOD.

Notice the words "when thou art converted". JESUS did not say "if" but He said "when" this means that JESUS already knew that there would be an ending to the "sifting" by Satan. In our life, we must trust that when we are sifted, that there will be an end to it.

Look at the word "converted". In the case of Simon, it was the end of self-confidence and the beginning of a totally yielded life. Conversion is a 180 degree turn around; Simon was a self-confident person and after being sifted by Satan, he became a humble, yielded servant of GOD. Simon was renamed by JESUS to be Peter and he strengthened his brethren. 

Look at the keys here; Satan oppresses, JESUS intercedes, JESUS knows the end of the sifting, conversion is the result of the trial and the brethren are strengthened.