I Lift Up My

Soul

Dr. Charles Stanley

July 3, 2017

The Sifting Process

2 Corinthians 12:10

I take pleasure in infirmities, in needs, in persecution,

in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

God has a plan for your life. However, it doesn't snap into place overnight.

It takes a lifetime to achieve all He has planned for you. He prepares you

for service by giving you spiritual gifts and natural talents, and by allowing

you to face many difficulties. He uses the difficulties to sift away the

impurities in your life. The difficulties also sand and polish the rough

edges of your life until they are smoothed. In the end, you become a

reflection of His glory.

When God begins His process of sifting in your life, you may feel as

though your entire life is being shaken. Don't worry. He is positioning

you for a great blessing. Another indication of the sifting process of God

comes when you sense His silence. He is testing to see whether you will

trust Him even though He is not making Himself known to you through

material blessings.

One of the hardest forms of sifting comes through suffering, whether

physical, mental, or emotional. Amy Carmichael, a devoted servant of

God, spent the last years of her life confined to her bed. God allowed

her to be tested beyond what seemed bearable, especially for one who

loved being in contact with others. Most of us will never face that kind

of trial. However, the life of Christ burned brilliantly within her. Today

her books, written during her time of suffering, are testimonies of God's

faithfulness and glory.

Master, help me to realize that You work in silence, suffering, and times

of shaking to accomplish Your purposes in my life. Use these difficult

circumstances to prepare me for the future You have planned. amen