Scripture Reading: John 21:1-14
“Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We are going with you also.’ They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.”—John 21:3
After Jesus’ resurrection, Peter and the other disciples went to Galilee where the Lord promised they would see Him (Matthew 28:10). Scriptures do not state how long they waited but after some time, Peter announced he was going fishing. The other six with Peter decided to join him. This was not a “grab a pole and throw a line in the water” recreational trip but a commercial fishing venture like the disciples had engaged in when Jesus called them three years prior.
Despite being professional fishermen, the disciples’ night of fishing yielded empty nets. Then, Jesus appeared on the shore the next morning, unrecognized by the disciples, and directed them where to drop their nets. The yield, 153 large fish. The disciples had been called to be fishers of men (Matthew 4:19) but went back to what they felt comfortable doing, fishing, and caught nothing, until Jesus gave them direction.
Have you ever found yourself “going fishing”? Not the actual act of fishing for fish, but doing that old, comfortable thing while waiting on God to do a new thing in your life? Waiting on God can challenge our patience and test our faith. If God doesn’t move quickly enough, we fill our time with activity, sometimes reverting to old habits. The challenges in our workplace, finances, relationships or health entice us to return to old fishing holes: seeking comfort in an addictive substance, returning to that old abusive and dysfunctional relationship, using shopping as therapy and consolation for real issues in our lives, and all manner of self-destructive habits.
Sometimes it is not even a bad habit, just one that takes the focus away from what God is directing us to do. As lifelong fishermen, the disciples returned to what they knew, fishing. But Jesus came in time to redirect and refocus them on their real purpose. Tired of waiting for God to do what has been promised to you? Don’t give up, don’t return to what is comfortable. Until God comes and gives you direction, all that you do otherwise will be futile. Stay focused!
Waiting on You, Waiting on You,
Patiently waiting on You.
I ain’t worried about the time,
Lord I seem to find,
My strength while I’m waiting You
Amen, good words…