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Sifted: God's Scandalous Response to Satan's Outrageous Demand
Discouraged by life’s difficulties—both life-shifting catastrophes and the drip-drip-drip of daily trouble? Dissatisfied with the same old pat answers about God’s role in our hard times? Rick Lawrence offers fresh biblical perspective based on a single Scripture snapshot--Luke 22:31-32. Jesus tells Peter he’s about to be “sifted like wheat”—shaken hard, beaten, and agitated until he practically falls apart. Satan’s going to do it. And Jesus is going to allow it, in the interest of showing Peter who he really is. Lawrence uses the simple agrarian metaphor of sifting as a jumping-off point for a rigorously honest, deeply challenging, yet powerfully comforting exploration of the trials that beat us down, the good God who allows our troubles, and the incredible beauty the process of sifting can reveal in us.
272 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2011
68 people are currently reading
407 people want to read
About the author
Rick Lawrence
36 books9 followersRick Lawrence is the long-time editor of GROUP magazine and co-leader of the Simply Youth Ministry Conference. He also speaks frequently for conferences and workshops, consults for national research organizations, and publishes prolifically—with 31 books (authored, coauthored or edited), hundreds of articles, and a small-group curriculum to his credit.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
September 15, 2012
Sifted ... Thank you Rick for giving a context for the experience ...
It was literally the smallest cry I have ever heard. It doesn’t even seem real now. There he was. Malik Sharif Bray in all his glory. 1 pound, nine ounces, four months early, as long as an action figure (think GI Joe with the kung fu grip) and not weighing much more than the 16 oz. water bottles we are all so fond of carrying around.
When I saw him, I literally fainted. Smooth hit the floor. His skin was transparent. HIs eyes covered to protect them. [His chances of survival: almost as slim as he appeared to none.] But there he was. He was beautiful and strong. A fighter announcing to the world, with that small thin cry, “I AM HERE.”
That was my entrance into motherhood.
When I regained consciousness, I found myself being wheeled back to my room. I don’t know what I had expected. When they whisked him away the night before to take him to NICU, they told me he was small. But the fact that he had cried at 24 weeks gestation was a good thing. I think in my head, I envisioned a really tiny cherub--all fat, rosy-cheeked and cooing. What I found the next morning in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit was a very gangly, micro-premie who was an extremely serious person.
Ours was a cautious relationship at first. I’ll admit it, I was scared to love him. What if he decided this plane of existence wasn’t what it was cracked up to be? What if I showed this man-child all the love and adoration I felt for him instantaneously and he decided that he liked Heaven better. I mean, who can really compete with Heaven?
I was awe struck. How could someone so small, be so tough? So resilient?
For the first two months that we were in the NICU, I held my breath. Every time he had a surgery, every time he forgot to remember to breath, every time he got an infection and lost weight, every time he blew another vein for the IV line and they had to stick him somewhere else, I held my breath--and withheld all the love I felt for this child. Not that I didn’t love him, I was fully invested even though I didn’t want to admit it; in case he left me.
The nurses had to make me go home. Some nights they would commandeer a room for me somewhere in the hospital so that I wouldn’t have to make the long drive home after midnight. But on those nights that I would drive home alone, blinded by tears, I would be racked with guilt, fear and confusion.
There were midnight hours that I sat on the shower floor, with the water running, trying to pray. But couldn’t pray. All I could get out was ‘Oh God!” I felt convicted because I couldn’t go to God in prayer. That is until my Auntie told me that my crying out unto the Lord was a prayer. That God understood what I meant, even though I had no words ...
I had no words.
Me, the person who had made her living as a wordsmith. Me, the person who had her own column in the Los Angeles Sentinel and in A national music magazine. Me, the person who sat by her first born’s incubator in the NICU putting together her own youth newspaper every month that he was in that tiny, hard, plastic bubble. That artificial womb.
Me, the person who had always found the words found herself at a loss for them. And although I could only get out a guttural, “oh God,” I can honestly say, I never asked the Most High, “why me Lord?”
I would be lying if I didn’t say that I wondered what lesson I was supposed to glean from this painstaking entrée into motherhood. This “gain two ounces, and lose three” game. But as Malik began to thrive, moving toward the coveted 4 lbs 12 oz he needed to weigh in order to be released from the hospital, I learned my lesson--which was simply to wait on God.
While watching my baby develop outside of my body, I was humbled by how great God is. My journey into motherhood, although different from most, taught me that God is bigger than my words. That God is bigger than any words ever uttered and that prayer avails much. I learned that God is still performing miracles because that’s what Malik is--a miracle.
Now when I look at him, and the funny, smart, handsome high school senior he has become, I truly understand that life before motherhood was a pale comparison to what my life has become after God chose me to be the vessel which harbored my child's soul. Before Malik, I was a self-centered, "what about me' chick. In the process of being sifted, I was beaten, separated and revealed. And my second name was given to me--nurturer!
It was literally the smallest cry I have ever heard. It doesn’t even seem real now. There he was. Malik Sharif Bray in all his glory. 1 pound, nine ounces, four months early, as long as an action figure (think GI Joe with the kung fu grip) and not weighing much more than the 16 oz. water bottles we are all so fond of carrying around.
When I saw him, I literally fainted. Smooth hit the floor. His skin was transparent. HIs eyes covered to protect them. [His chances of survival: almost as slim as he appeared to none.] But there he was. He was beautiful and strong. A fighter announcing to the world, with that small thin cry, “I AM HERE.”
That was my entrance into motherhood.
When I regained consciousness, I found myself being wheeled back to my room. I don’t know what I had expected. When they whisked him away the night before to take him to NICU, they told me he was small. But the fact that he had cried at 24 weeks gestation was a good thing. I think in my head, I envisioned a really tiny cherub--all fat, rosy-cheeked and cooing. What I found the next morning in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit was a very gangly, micro-premie who was an extremely serious person.
Ours was a cautious relationship at first. I’ll admit it, I was scared to love him. What if he decided this plane of existence wasn’t what it was cracked up to be? What if I showed this man-child all the love and adoration I felt for him instantaneously and he decided that he liked Heaven better. I mean, who can really compete with Heaven?
I was awe struck. How could someone so small, be so tough? So resilient?
For the first two months that we were in the NICU, I held my breath. Every time he had a surgery, every time he forgot to remember to breath, every time he got an infection and lost weight, every time he blew another vein for the IV line and they had to stick him somewhere else, I held my breath--and withheld all the love I felt for this child. Not that I didn’t love him, I was fully invested even though I didn’t want to admit it; in case he left me.
The nurses had to make me go home. Some nights they would commandeer a room for me somewhere in the hospital so that I wouldn’t have to make the long drive home after midnight. But on those nights that I would drive home alone, blinded by tears, I would be racked with guilt, fear and confusion.
There were midnight hours that I sat on the shower floor, with the water running, trying to pray. But couldn’t pray. All I could get out was ‘Oh God!” I felt convicted because I couldn’t go to God in prayer. That is until my Auntie told me that my crying out unto the Lord was a prayer. That God understood what I meant, even though I had no words ...
I had no words.
Me, the person who had made her living as a wordsmith. Me, the person who had her own column in the Los Angeles Sentinel and in A national music magazine. Me, the person who sat by her first born’s incubator in the NICU putting together her own youth newspaper every month that he was in that tiny, hard, plastic bubble. That artificial womb.
Me, the person who had always found the words found herself at a loss for them. And although I could only get out a guttural, “oh God,” I can honestly say, I never asked the Most High, “why me Lord?”
I would be lying if I didn’t say that I wondered what lesson I was supposed to glean from this painstaking entrée into motherhood. This “gain two ounces, and lose three” game. But as Malik began to thrive, moving toward the coveted 4 lbs 12 oz he needed to weigh in order to be released from the hospital, I learned my lesson--which was simply to wait on God.
While watching my baby develop outside of my body, I was humbled by how great God is. My journey into motherhood, although different from most, taught me that God is bigger than my words. That God is bigger than any words ever uttered and that prayer avails much. I learned that God is still performing miracles because that’s what Malik is--a miracle.
Now when I look at him, and the funny, smart, handsome high school senior he has become, I truly understand that life before motherhood was a pale comparison to what my life has become after God chose me to be the vessel which harbored my child's soul. Before Malik, I was a self-centered, "what about me' chick. In the process of being sifted, I was beaten, separated and revealed. And my second name was given to me--nurturer!
October 9, 2013
This book really spoke to me in this season of my life, and no doubt I'll come back to its message and continue to recommended it to others.
December 16, 2013
This book explores Peter's experience of being "sifted as wheat," what it meant for him, and what it means for Christians today. Though I didn't agree with everything the author had to say, there were enough nuggets of truth that I kept reading to the end. What I liked: the emphasis on viewing times of extreme testing through the "lens" that God is good. There were also several quotes from Spurgeon and other Christian preachers or writers that seemed to add to the discussion. What I didn't care for: the MANY pop-culture references that didn't (in my view) add to the message of the book at all --- things like lengthy song lyrics, movie scenes, and quotes from actors or TV personalities. Those types of things distracted me. The book was at its best when it was closest to Scripture. The other parts were only so-so for me.
March 5, 2015
As many times as I've read Luke's Gospel, I've never really paid attention to one verse (22:31): “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; 32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
I know God allowed Satan to attack Job to prove that Job would remain faithful, but I didn't remember that God allowed Satan to "sift" Simon Peter. And Jesus' response wasn't to tell the devil "no" or make it easy for Peter, he prayed that Peter's faith wouldn't fail.
Although the pop culture references (celebrity quotes, song lyrics, etc.) didn't resonate with me and I didn't agree with everything he said, the author's discussion of how God sifts each of us made a big impact on me.
I know God allowed Satan to attack Job to prove that Job would remain faithful, but I didn't remember that God allowed Satan to "sift" Simon Peter. And Jesus' response wasn't to tell the devil "no" or make it easy for Peter, he prayed that Peter's faith wouldn't fail.
Although the pop culture references (celebrity quotes, song lyrics, etc.) didn't resonate with me and I didn't agree with everything he said, the author's discussion of how God sifts each of us made a big impact on me.
November 25, 2017
Ever feel like you're getting endlessly pummeled in life? Like one of those inflatable punching dolls with lead weight in the bottom. You get punched. You spring back up only to get punched again. Sometimes you wish you could just stay down, but something springs you back up every time. And you get punched again. And...
You get the idea.
I told a friend I was going through a rough stretch (actually it was very rough), and she recommended Sifted. I went to Amazon and the first line of the blurb was "Discouraged by life’s difficulties—both life-shifting catastrophes and the drip-drip-drip of daily trouble?" and I knew I had to read it. "The drip-drip-drip of daily trouble." Yeah, I figured this guy knows trouble. (If he'd written just "drip-drip of daily trouble" I might have had some doubts, but anybody who writes "the drip-drip-drip of daily trouble" knows what he's talking about when it comes to getting pummeled.)
The book's Christian. No doubt about it. But it's not some namby-pamby all is wonderful born-again vehicle. Lawrence challenges God. I'm sure a lot of born-agains cringed reading it (if they read it at all).
The book gets its title from the Bible passage where Jesus tells his disciple Simon Peter: "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat." And the author explains the analogy of how sifting wheat is a very painful (if you will) process. The husk is forcibly removed, then the grain is ground through mesh and what's left is a mere skeleton of itself. And this is what happens to believers. Sometimes anyway.
So why would God let something like that happen? And why is God talking to Satan in the first place? These are the kinds of questions Lawrence addresses in the book.
He quotes David McKee at one point: "You are what you do under pressure, and the greater the pressure, the truer the revelation of who you really are."
And in Sifted it was the real life hardships people have endured and sometimes overcome and sometimes not that I found compelling. And yes, if the suffering is intense enough the only way through it is with God's help.
Lawrence acknowledges that faith is a mystery, but he quotes blogger Chad Arnold talking about the different kinds of faith. How some prayer is like making requests of Santa. And there is a deeper kind of prayer. Arnold writes:
Lawrence is an excellent writer and I found myself—despite the book's difficult subject—drawn back to it until I finished it.
It's obviously not beach reading, but if you've ever felt endlessly beat up in your life, if the pressure on you has been too great, unfair. If you're angry at God and still somehow believing, then this is a book that may have some answers for you. At the very least you will be walking with people who have experienced something similar to what you're going through and managed to keep their chins up. However miraculously.
You get the idea.
I told a friend I was going through a rough stretch (actually it was very rough), and she recommended Sifted. I went to Amazon and the first line of the blurb was "Discouraged by life’s difficulties—both life-shifting catastrophes and the drip-drip-drip of daily trouble?" and I knew I had to read it. "The drip-drip-drip of daily trouble." Yeah, I figured this guy knows trouble. (If he'd written just "drip-drip of daily trouble" I might have had some doubts, but anybody who writes "the drip-drip-drip of daily trouble" knows what he's talking about when it comes to getting pummeled.)
The book's Christian. No doubt about it. But it's not some namby-pamby all is wonderful born-again vehicle. Lawrence challenges God. I'm sure a lot of born-agains cringed reading it (if they read it at all).
The book gets its title from the Bible passage where Jesus tells his disciple Simon Peter: "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat." And the author explains the analogy of how sifting wheat is a very painful (if you will) process. The husk is forcibly removed, then the grain is ground through mesh and what's left is a mere skeleton of itself. And this is what happens to believers. Sometimes anyway.
So why would God let something like that happen? And why is God talking to Satan in the first place? These are the kinds of questions Lawrence addresses in the book.
He quotes David McKee at one point: "You are what you do under pressure, and the greater the pressure, the truer the revelation of who you really are."
And in Sifted it was the real life hardships people have endured and sometimes overcome and sometimes not that I found compelling. And yes, if the suffering is intense enough the only way through it is with God's help.
Lawrence acknowledges that faith is a mystery, but he quotes blogger Chad Arnold talking about the different kinds of faith. How some prayer is like making requests of Santa. And there is a deeper kind of prayer. Arnold writes:
These are people who have prayed heartfelt prayers to a God they've clung to their entire life. Regardless, things didn't turn out like they planned—not even close. They've got questions, but they're not doubting. They're hurt, but they're not damaged. They're not cracked, but you better believe they are broken. ... The lesson learned (or missed) is how we respond—humility and stewardship when we get what we want and total reliance on our Creator when we don't.
Lawrence is an excellent writer and I found myself—despite the book's difficult subject—drawn back to it until I finished it.
It's obviously not beach reading, but if you've ever felt endlessly beat up in your life, if the pressure on you has been too great, unfair. If you're angry at God and still somehow believing, then this is a book that may have some answers for you. At the very least you will be walking with people who have experienced something similar to what you're going through and managed to keep their chins up. However miraculously.
December 14, 2024
This is one of the best books I've ever read. It speaks to trials/sifting that every believer goes through, but in such a unique way. He points out the end result and God's scandalous love in a way that makes me cry with overwhelming gratitude. Also, the way the author words things in SO very descriptive, out-of-the-box and interesting - he's a master of words. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, and look forward to reading it again soon.
December 20, 2018
Hard read
Definitely got me to thinking. I’m in a sifting period now and desire that it produces in me what is needed.
Definitely got me to thinking. I’m in a sifting period now and desire that it produces in me what is needed.
September 24, 2011
"People who have been sifted and revealed see God's heart
more clearly, and therefore understand His goodness
more deeply, and therefore give what they have
more freely."
Have you experienced deep pain that has left your world in shattered pieces around you? Have you looked up to find that some cataclysmic event in life, some unexpected storm has left your world turned upside down? Or are you the one who looks up one morning and feel as if the weight of the daily grind has pulled so much from you that you just don't know if you can handle one more of life's "little aggravations" because if your honest you've just had too many of these little events to juggle with lately. Your broken, your empty, your all poured out, your exhausted and the road you are walking is suffocating darkness. You look up and wonder what your faith has really done for you - who is this Jesus that you've loved and served - where is He now - and if He loved you so much why isn't He helping you?
This is one of those rare books that you pick up that has the power to cause you to stop and reevaluate your life and your beliefs. It is one of those books that on the outside seems absolutely harmless, maybe even interesting - then you crack the cover and what you begin to realize is this is a book that reflects some of your deepest questions about God - that known thing that you are too "religious" to admit out loud; the thought that God seems filled with contradiction - deep a passionate love, and then a "brutal" terrible side that conditions us and allows sifting that will shatter us so that we better understand Him.
My copy of this book is already separating from it's binding, it is dog-eared, tabbed, underlined and has thoughts and revelations written in the margins. It has been re-opened time and time again to certain passages and cross-referenced with scriptures. It is in a sad shape for a book, but it bears the evidence of one that has already been well read - as I am sure every copy sold will.
Dealing mainly with the topic of Simon Peter's sifting experience this book explores what on the surface is the contradiction of God's loving side. This is eventually exposed as our misinterpretation of God's deep, intense, personal love for His creation; and His driving desire to have His creation conformed to His image.
I am adding this book (a new copy of course) to my shelf to recommend to those going through a sifting process. Almost a year ago we lost an infant son at 4 months of pregnancy due to a Subchorionic hemorrhage. This condition is usually resolved, however just when we got the confirmation that it was resolved just a few days later it reappeared. I will say that of all the sifting experiences in my life this was by far the most devastating and most life-changing. I can personally relate to this book. As in the middle my only hold to life when my faith became thread-bear and I began to wonder how much more can I bear. In the midst of the darkness I cried out for God to just show me the cross - I knew if I could just focus on that I would somehow survive this great ordeal. Continually I prayed for the survival of Caleb Levi - but on the other end of this prayer was a mother's heart broken plea, "Father, please give me the courage, the strength to accept Your will no matter what it is. Please give me spiritual eyesight to see past this numbing pain and recognize Your glory". Needless to say we lost our child - but in an essay labeled "The Sacrifice of Praise" I explained how this very experience brought to me a deeper more intimate knowledge of Christ and my identity in Him. In the wake of this loss my husband and I learned of the need for a new ministry, our raw hearts longed to comfort those who did not have the same tie to Jesus - to introduce them to the calm waters of His land even in the midst of a crashing world and shattered dreams. I remember telling my when he said he did not know if he could go through this again, "Who are we to say what we can or can not go through - these things are in God's hands and are for our good. I must believe and hold to the fact that He said He has good thoughts toward me - even in the bad. Therefore He will sustain me again and again...I must trust that He will not crush me completely".
Page 97... " God has not promised that He's going to stop [the bad from happening], but He'll show up in the middle of it, and there is nothing so dead that He can't grow something out of it. There's nothing so broken that He can't heal it. And there's not anything so lost He can't find it."
Special thanks to B&B Media Group, Inc for this review copy.
more clearly, and therefore understand His goodness
more deeply, and therefore give what they have
more freely."
Have you experienced deep pain that has left your world in shattered pieces around you? Have you looked up to find that some cataclysmic event in life, some unexpected storm has left your world turned upside down? Or are you the one who looks up one morning and feel as if the weight of the daily grind has pulled so much from you that you just don't know if you can handle one more of life's "little aggravations" because if your honest you've just had too many of these little events to juggle with lately. Your broken, your empty, your all poured out, your exhausted and the road you are walking is suffocating darkness. You look up and wonder what your faith has really done for you - who is this Jesus that you've loved and served - where is He now - and if He loved you so much why isn't He helping you?
This is one of those rare books that you pick up that has the power to cause you to stop and reevaluate your life and your beliefs. It is one of those books that on the outside seems absolutely harmless, maybe even interesting - then you crack the cover and what you begin to realize is this is a book that reflects some of your deepest questions about God - that known thing that you are too "religious" to admit out loud; the thought that God seems filled with contradiction - deep a passionate love, and then a "brutal" terrible side that conditions us and allows sifting that will shatter us so that we better understand Him.
My copy of this book is already separating from it's binding, it is dog-eared, tabbed, underlined and has thoughts and revelations written in the margins. It has been re-opened time and time again to certain passages and cross-referenced with scriptures. It is in a sad shape for a book, but it bears the evidence of one that has already been well read - as I am sure every copy sold will.
Dealing mainly with the topic of Simon Peter's sifting experience this book explores what on the surface is the contradiction of God's loving side. This is eventually exposed as our misinterpretation of God's deep, intense, personal love for His creation; and His driving desire to have His creation conformed to His image.
I am adding this book (a new copy of course) to my shelf to recommend to those going through a sifting process. Almost a year ago we lost an infant son at 4 months of pregnancy due to a Subchorionic hemorrhage. This condition is usually resolved, however just when we got the confirmation that it was resolved just a few days later it reappeared. I will say that of all the sifting experiences in my life this was by far the most devastating and most life-changing. I can personally relate to this book. As in the middle my only hold to life when my faith became thread-bear and I began to wonder how much more can I bear. In the midst of the darkness I cried out for God to just show me the cross - I knew if I could just focus on that I would somehow survive this great ordeal. Continually I prayed for the survival of Caleb Levi - but on the other end of this prayer was a mother's heart broken plea, "Father, please give me the courage, the strength to accept Your will no matter what it is. Please give me spiritual eyesight to see past this numbing pain and recognize Your glory". Needless to say we lost our child - but in an essay labeled "The Sacrifice of Praise" I explained how this very experience brought to me a deeper more intimate knowledge of Christ and my identity in Him. In the wake of this loss my husband and I learned of the need for a new ministry, our raw hearts longed to comfort those who did not have the same tie to Jesus - to introduce them to the calm waters of His land even in the midst of a crashing world and shattered dreams. I remember telling my when he said he did not know if he could go through this again, "Who are we to say what we can or can not go through - these things are in God's hands and are for our good. I must believe and hold to the fact that He said He has good thoughts toward me - even in the bad. Therefore He will sustain me again and again...I must trust that He will not crush me completely".
Page 97... " God has not promised that He's going to stop [the bad from happening], but He'll show up in the middle of it, and there is nothing so dead that He can't grow something out of it. There's nothing so broken that He can't heal it. And there's not anything so lost He can't find it."
Special thanks to B&B Media Group, Inc for this review copy.
January 6, 2012
Rick Lawrence in his new book, “Sifted” published by David C. Cook gives us God’s Scandalous Response to Satan’s Outrageous Demand.
From the Back Cover: A Biblical encounter that will first challenge you, then comfort you, then leave you changed.
Discouraged by life’s difficulties—both the life-shifting catastrophes and the drip-drip-drip of daily troubles? Dissatisfied with the same-old pat answers about God’s role in our hard times? Rick Lawrence takes you on a surprising-even dangerous-journey into the deepest recess of God’s heart towards us. To get there, he drills deep into a single Scripture snapshot (Luke 22:31-32). Jesus tells Peter he’s about to be “sifted like wheat”—shaken hard, beaten, and pitched into despair until he’s separated from the person he always thought he was. Satan’s going to do it. And Jesus is going to allow it. But why? Jesus makes no mistake with His metaphors, and sifting offers a brutally honest picture of God’s goodness at work on behalf of our freedom. “Sifted” is a rigorously honest, deeply challenging, yet powerfully redemptive exploration of the trials that beat us down, the good God who allows them, and the incredible beauty sifting can reveal in us.
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” These two simple verses from Luke’s account of the Last Supper launch a profound exploration of the meaning of trouble in a Christian’s life. Suffering is inevitable, and if we’re honest, the explanations commonly offered often just don’t hold up or help very much. But Jesus’ perfect metaphor of sifting provides fresh perspective on why we suffer and what the sifting process can reveal in our lives.
Peter was to be “sifted like wheat”—shaken hard, beaten, and finally separated from his false identity. Satan was the one causing it, but Jesus would allow it. Lawrence’s verse-by-verse exploration offers insight, comfort, challenge, and a call to greater intimacy with the God who allows our pain because He wants us to know who we really are and what we can become.
If we believe that Christians are still sifted today, why do we so often judge those who are experiencing hardships? They must have done something wrong. God must be punishing them. But suffering is inevitable, whether it comes in the form of life-shifting catastrophe or the drip-drip-dripping of daily troubles. “Sifted” will encourage those who are facing trouble now and those who will face it in the future. It will encourage us to see our pain as a means to greater knowledge and intimacy with Christ. Lawrence offers a rigorously honest, deeply challenging, yet powerfully comforting exploration of the trials that beat us down, the good God who allows our troubles, and the incredible beauty the process of sifting can reveal in us.
“Sifted” is one of the most thought-provoking books I have ever read! I always believed that this sifting process was exclusively for Peter and never, ever claimed it for myself. However, The Bible was written for us and Peter Lawrence does an outstanding job of explaining not only those verses but how they pertain to us and how we can help others who are going through the sifting process. I guarantee you this is not a book you can only read once then put it on the shelf and forget about it. You will come back to it again and again. Everyone should have a copy of this book. It will help immensely!
If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from The B&B Media Group for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
From the Back Cover: A Biblical encounter that will first challenge you, then comfort you, then leave you changed.
Discouraged by life’s difficulties—both the life-shifting catastrophes and the drip-drip-drip of daily troubles? Dissatisfied with the same-old pat answers about God’s role in our hard times? Rick Lawrence takes you on a surprising-even dangerous-journey into the deepest recess of God’s heart towards us. To get there, he drills deep into a single Scripture snapshot (Luke 22:31-32). Jesus tells Peter he’s about to be “sifted like wheat”—shaken hard, beaten, and pitched into despair until he’s separated from the person he always thought he was. Satan’s going to do it. And Jesus is going to allow it. But why? Jesus makes no mistake with His metaphors, and sifting offers a brutally honest picture of God’s goodness at work on behalf of our freedom. “Sifted” is a rigorously honest, deeply challenging, yet powerfully redemptive exploration of the trials that beat us down, the good God who allows them, and the incredible beauty sifting can reveal in us.
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” These two simple verses from Luke’s account of the Last Supper launch a profound exploration of the meaning of trouble in a Christian’s life. Suffering is inevitable, and if we’re honest, the explanations commonly offered often just don’t hold up or help very much. But Jesus’ perfect metaphor of sifting provides fresh perspective on why we suffer and what the sifting process can reveal in our lives.
Peter was to be “sifted like wheat”—shaken hard, beaten, and finally separated from his false identity. Satan was the one causing it, but Jesus would allow it. Lawrence’s verse-by-verse exploration offers insight, comfort, challenge, and a call to greater intimacy with the God who allows our pain because He wants us to know who we really are and what we can become.
If we believe that Christians are still sifted today, why do we so often judge those who are experiencing hardships? They must have done something wrong. God must be punishing them. But suffering is inevitable, whether it comes in the form of life-shifting catastrophe or the drip-drip-dripping of daily troubles. “Sifted” will encourage those who are facing trouble now and those who will face it in the future. It will encourage us to see our pain as a means to greater knowledge and intimacy with Christ. Lawrence offers a rigorously honest, deeply challenging, yet powerfully comforting exploration of the trials that beat us down, the good God who allows our troubles, and the incredible beauty the process of sifting can reveal in us.
“Sifted” is one of the most thought-provoking books I have ever read! I always believed that this sifting process was exclusively for Peter and never, ever claimed it for myself. However, The Bible was written for us and Peter Lawrence does an outstanding job of explaining not only those verses but how they pertain to us and how we can help others who are going through the sifting process. I guarantee you this is not a book you can only read once then put it on the shelf and forget about it. You will come back to it again and again. Everyone should have a copy of this book. It will help immensely!
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from The B&B Media Group for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
August 30, 2011
A Biblical encounter that will first challenge you, then comfort you, then leave you changed.
Discouraged by life's difficulties - both the life-shifting catastrophes and the drip-drip-drip of your daily troubles? Dissatisfied with the same old pat answers about God's role in our hard times? Rick Lawrence takes you on a surprising - even dangerous - journey into the deepest recesses of God's heart toward us. To get there, he drills deep into the single Scripture snapshot (Luke 22:31-32). Jesus tells Peter he's about to be "sifted like wheat" - shaken hard, beaten, and pitched into despair until he's separated from the person he always thought he was.
Satan's going to do it. And Jesus is going to allow it. But why? Jesus makes no mistakes with His metaphors, and sifting offers a brutally honest picture of God's goodness at work on behalf of our freedom. Sifted is a rigorously honest, deeply challenging, yet powerful redemptive exploration of the trials that beat us down, the good God who allows them, and the incredible beauty sifting can reveal in us.
I received the book, Sifted by Rick Lawrence, compliments of B & B Media Group for my honest review and for some reason, came at just the right opportunity for our family to use this as a study into what is meant by being sifted, what the purpose is in our life and how we can become better Christians in spite of the process.
Rick Lawrence uses many real life examples to illustrate how the sifting process works. One such example is the death of Steve Curtis Chapman's daughter, who was killed in an accident by one of his sons backing out of the driveway and hitting the small girl. In the midst of this time, the Chapmans underwent their own "sifting process" and what came out the other side has not only helped them in their grieving process but also helped others by watching how they weathered that storm.
This helps us to explain the question "why" even though during the process we can't always see the benefits of what things happen to us but this book helps the reader weather the time that passes and enables them to help others through life's "sifting" process of their own. I rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars and think everyone should have a copy in their home.
Discouraged by life's difficulties - both the life-shifting catastrophes and the drip-drip-drip of your daily troubles? Dissatisfied with the same old pat answers about God's role in our hard times? Rick Lawrence takes you on a surprising - even dangerous - journey into the deepest recesses of God's heart toward us. To get there, he drills deep into the single Scripture snapshot (Luke 22:31-32). Jesus tells Peter he's about to be "sifted like wheat" - shaken hard, beaten, and pitched into despair until he's separated from the person he always thought he was.
Satan's going to do it. And Jesus is going to allow it. But why? Jesus makes no mistakes with His metaphors, and sifting offers a brutally honest picture of God's goodness at work on behalf of our freedom. Sifted is a rigorously honest, deeply challenging, yet powerful redemptive exploration of the trials that beat us down, the good God who allows them, and the incredible beauty sifting can reveal in us.
I received the book, Sifted by Rick Lawrence, compliments of B & B Media Group for my honest review and for some reason, came at just the right opportunity for our family to use this as a study into what is meant by being sifted, what the purpose is in our life and how we can become better Christians in spite of the process.
Rick Lawrence uses many real life examples to illustrate how the sifting process works. One such example is the death of Steve Curtis Chapman's daughter, who was killed in an accident by one of his sons backing out of the driveway and hitting the small girl. In the midst of this time, the Chapmans underwent their own "sifting process" and what came out the other side has not only helped them in their grieving process but also helped others by watching how they weathered that storm.
This helps us to explain the question "why" even though during the process we can't always see the benefits of what things happen to us but this book helps the reader weather the time that passes and enables them to help others through life's "sifting" process of their own. I rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars and think everyone should have a copy in their home.
August 30, 2012
This book did an excellent job of explaining that Christianity will not be easy. Lawrence also communicates how "bad" experiences can be God's way of strengthening us.
Main Message
If I were to go through life believing that all the bad things in life come from satan, while good things comes from God, I would have an inaccurate view of reality. I would live in fear of the satan, always worrying what harm he is planning for me. However, if I approach life from the perspective that God seeks to use hard times to build me up for accomplishing kingdom purposes, then I can face life with purpose and seeking to finish the race set before me.
Neat point on Discipleship
"Understand the biblical principle, then apply it to your life."
This has been the main approach that Christians take to "discipleship." Lawrence notes that understand and apply is okay, but it only only creates a facade of righteousness. Truth righteousness will only be achieved if we are transformed by God (Romans 12).
Other points
- Main Scripture: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you,that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” ~ Luke 22:31-32
- He uses several "Lord of the Ring" analogies, a pet peeve of mine after I read through one of John Eldredge books.
- He redeems himself by referencing Sherlock Holmes!
- Easy read, precise/concise, though provoking.
Main Message
If I were to go through life believing that all the bad things in life come from satan, while good things comes from God, I would have an inaccurate view of reality. I would live in fear of the satan, always worrying what harm he is planning for me. However, if I approach life from the perspective that God seeks to use hard times to build me up for accomplishing kingdom purposes, then I can face life with purpose and seeking to finish the race set before me.
Neat point on Discipleship
"Understand the biblical principle, then apply it to your life."
This has been the main approach that Christians take to "discipleship." Lawrence notes that understand and apply is okay, but it only only creates a facade of righteousness. Truth righteousness will only be achieved if we are transformed by God (Romans 12).
Other points
- Main Scripture: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you,that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” ~ Luke 22:31-32
- He uses several "Lord of the Ring" analogies, a pet peeve of mine after I read through one of John Eldredge books.
- He redeems himself by referencing Sherlock Holmes!
- Easy read, precise/concise, though provoking.
October 27, 2013
Thank you Rick for writing this week. I have been through my own deep and difficult sifting season, and this book helped me put in context all that I have been through. As I move now into my reveal season, I recognize the value of all I have been through, no matter how difficult it was. It is sad that so many people do not understand this process that God uses to refine and re-mold those who desire to be his disciples. I live in Northern Colorado, and if you read this Rick, I would love to meet in person sometime to dig into this further. Well done, and I believe this is a must read book for followers of Christ.
Read
January 28, 2016Sifting is a process we understand in baking a cake, sifting wheat from the chaff. But when it happens in our lives it is a process that leaves us breathless, angry and bitter, some times without hope. Trying to understand with no clear cut answers.
I like the way the author said it "The tracelines of our sifting experiences are in the drip-drip-drip of our common existence and in the epic transitions of our life’s arc. We find them in our childhood and in our just-yesterdays. It is not hard to spot them because our soul is tattoo-seared with them."
I like the way the author said it "The tracelines of our sifting experiences are in the drip-drip-drip of our common existence and in the epic transitions of our life’s arc. We find them in our childhood and in our just-yesterdays. It is not hard to spot them because our soul is tattoo-seared with them."
June 26, 2014
This is a difficult read as it is a tough subject. Though still left with many questions...the author gave some great meaningful things to ponder. He does an excellent job in looking at the event of Peter and Job being sifted and how our lives compare. He gives excellent quotes and stories throughout the book.
March 1, 2014
Great book based on biblical principles. Helped me to put God's "sifting" process into relevant context in my own life. Helped me to understand that despite the pain of sifting... there's a greater purpose.
January 30, 2014
Very dissapointing book. It sounded so good. But actually it is more about the author and how he split up with his wife for a while, about cancer and his friends. It's like äh I don't want to read about you, I want to read about God. I haven't learned anthing and after reading 3/4 I gave up.
May 23, 2014
There are books that make you think and can change your world view. This is one of them. It is easy reading and then suddenly you'll realize how profound it is. I will need to read this one again. Highly recommended.
August 21, 2014
2.5 stars. I didn't agree with everything he said but he did make some good points. My biggest concern is that the book seems to focus on the person and who they are and what is happening to them rather than focusing on God and who he is.
November 30, 2011
Lots of great insights and things to think about. I'd like to read this again cause there is just too much to digest in one reading!
September 11, 2012
Very good!
September 25, 2012
Great book!
March 10, 2013
It was the perfect time for me to read this. The challenge of the book was not what it seemed.
October 7, 2012
Excellent book. I would read it again. I like the way the author writes. I highly recommend it.
October 9, 2012
This book is based on one verse from the bible. I enjoyed how the author gave me insight into each section of the verse and how Jesus wanted us to see how we are beaten, separated and revealed!
February 28, 2014
I don't read that many non-fiction books but this is was transformative. One of those life-changing, light-bulb kind of books. Don't miss this.
April 10, 2014
I really appreciated this book! Gave a deep meaningful purpose to life's struggles and heartaches. Made me worship and desire a more intimate relationship with my Lord. Highly recommend.
September 15, 2012
Very inspiring, current, and helpful. Particularly for those struggling (who isn't).
Want to read
August 28, 2012[free nook book]
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