When You Return…
I’ve always loved Simon Peter—his courage, his bold words, and the times when those words became too much for him to bear. Especially the moment when he first met Jesus and said, “Go away from me.” Somehow, the memories of this man touch my heart in a unique way.
These days, in these uncertain, dark times of collective suffering, another memory of his, one I hadn’t paid much attention to before, strikes my heart.
In this scene, it’s clear that Jesus is warning His disciples about the difficulties ahead. I’ve noticed He does this often, and reading it makes me feel closer to Him. Jesus doesn’t sugarcoat the journey with grand promises. Instead, He prepares them for the hardships to come, like a father or mother tenderly preparing their children for life.
When I was a child, I was one of the mischievous kids in our neighborhood. Some of my mischief was relatively innocent compared to others, like fighting to protect my friends. Though I wouldn’t recount those fights with pride now, they didn’t always end well for me. Sometimes, I’d get beaten, chased, or run away.
Whenever I told my father about these incidents, his response—“You must learn to protect yourself when necessary”—taught me that life would have its challenges. I understood even then that the future wouldn’t be easy.
Looking back, if those events happened today, I would respond differently, and I believe my father would have guided me differently, too, because back then, we didn’t know Jesus Christ.
This, I think, is exactly what Jesus was doing:
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.”
(Luke 22:31)
So, Satan sometimes seeks permission to test us.
Even though knowing this requires permission reveals God’s power, it doesn’t lessen the pain of the reality.
Today, we know these trials strengthen us, but that knowledge doesn’t always help our emotions.
But wait—here comes the most striking part:
“But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail…”
(Luke 22:32)
Can I ask you to pause for a moment?
Close your eyes and imagine this:
Picture Jesus Christ praying for you. See Him alone (because perhaps no one else knows), under the shade of a tree, maybe during the day or night, likely on His knees, speaking to His beloved Father, praying, and then you suddenly hear Him mention your name.
“Father, please strengthen [your name], let their faith not fail. Help them.”
Listen to this scene in your heart, or ask the Holy Spirit to show it to you.
Go ahead.
1, 2, 3…
“And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
(Luke 22:32)
How compassionate.
“Don’t worry about it now; I’m praying for you.
When you’ve been strengthened, when you return…
Strengthen your brothers.”
My Brother, My sister…
Don’t worry. Not now. But when you return—and you will return—
Strengthen your brothers, sisters.
For today, let Jesus pray for you.
Let your brothers and sisters strengthen you.
With love.