Every trial we face comes by God's command and permission. Satan had to ask God before he could touch Job. In a way, our challenges are directly from heaven. The Scripture says, "I'll sift the house of Israel." Satan may grip the sieve, hoping to destroy the grain, but God uses this to purify it.

If you feel like you're being sifted, take heart. God is directing this for His glory and your eternal good. Jesus will separate the precious from the worthless. Not all who appear to belong to God truly do. The sifting reveals the genuine. Real grain has weight and stays put; husks and chaff are blown away.

The Lord's wheat is completely safe. Even the smallest grain is preserved. God Himself does the sifting. It's serious and thorough, happening everywhere and effectively. Yet, not a single grain will fall. Every believer is precious to God. A shepherd wouldn't lose a sheep, a jeweller a diamond, a mother her child. God won't lose any of His redeemed. No matter how small we feel, if we belong to Him, we are safe in Christ Jesus.