When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
– Luke 5:4
Peter is exhausted from a long night of fishing. Though he’s an expert fisherman he has nothing to show for his last twelve hours of work. Frustrated by this experience Peter is ready to clean his nets and go home. He had done his best and it wasn’t working.
Then Jesus appears on the scene. Peter’s heard of the Carpenter from Nazareth, His miracles and His healing but wasn’t quite sure he could trust him. The Carpenter tells him to let down the nets once more.
Simon answered,
“Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
-Luke 5:5
Peter had no expectation of anything happening, but he did what Jesus told him to do anyway. The results changed his life forever. The nets filled to overflowing. He caught so many fish that he had to yell for others to come help him with the haul. Even though he had no faith, his obedience made provision for God’s blessing to flow in his life.
Are you standing where Peter was? Have you tried again and again to accomplish something in your own strength? Maybe you’ve been determined to repair the crack in your marriage, overcome an addiction or finally start the business you have always dreamed of. But no matter what you do, you just can’t seem to get it together and now you are ready to give up.
In the face of hopelessness and despair, Jesus is whispering over you the same thing He said to Peter, “Try one more time.”
Sometimes in your journey it will feel like everything is falling apart and you are at the place where you are ready to pack up and go home. When that moment comes, and it will, go back and do what God has told you to do. You may not have faith to believe but do it anyway…because He said so. God will honor your obedience.
God, I feel so weary and overwhelmed. Give me the strength to continue and let down my net once more. I don’t know what the outcome will be, but I choose to obey and trust You with the results. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
