Satan wants to sift you like wheat.

You need a message of hope and encouragement because most of the worst spiritual and emotional collapses often follow in the wake of your happiest, most victorious experiences.

"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren." And he said, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death." He said, "I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you three times deny that you know me." Luke 22:31–34

Only hours after being told that he would be a ruler in Christ's kingdom, Peter is going to crash, from the heights of joyful anticipation and confidence to the pit of failure and bitter weeping in one night. So don’t think it so strange that right after some of your happiest moments here comes a blue Monday. But take heart; Jesus prays for his own and will never let Satan destroy your faith and hope.

Satan Demands to Have You. In the book of Job Satan is pictured as having access to God and making demands of him. Listen to this interchange, which may be typical of how Satan opposes you:

Then Satan answered the Lord, "Does Job fear you for no reason? Have you not put a hedge about him and his house and all that he has? But put forth your hand now and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face!" And the Lord said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only on himself do not put your hand." (Job 1:9–12)

To increase your joy; the joy you have in the promises of God is always doubled when it bubbles up over the brim of your life and spills over onto others. God broke the back of Peter's pride and self-reliance that night in the agony of Satan's sifter. But he did not let him go. He turned him around and forgave him and restored him and strengthened his faith. And now it was Peter's mission to strengthen the other ten. Jesus provided for the ten by providing for Peter. The strengthened becomes the strengthener.

Sometimes God will deal with you directly, strengthening your faith alone. But most of the time God strengthens your faith through another person. God sends you some Simon Peter who brings just the word of grace you need to keep on in the faith: How "Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning" (Psalm 30:5). Eternal security is a community project. Whenever God encourages your heart with the promise that Satan is trying to sift your faith, then take that encouragement and double your joy by using it to strengthen your brothers and sisters.