WHEN IT ALL GOES SOUTH

READ; John 21: 1 - 7 1 Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. 2 Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. 3 Simon Peter said, "I'm going fishing." "We'll come, too," they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. 4 At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn't see who he was. 5 He called out, "Fellows, have you caught any fish?" "No," they replied. 6 Then he said, "Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you'll get some!" So they did, and they couldn't haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. 7 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, "It's the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. (NLT)

Have you ever tried to do something, and your hard work yielded - NOTHING.  

We all have. It happens. And in the case of disciples, it became an opportunity for a miracle.  

The disciples had some time on their hands, essentially unemployed. So to find their next meal and provide for themselves, they go fishing.

Now I don't know if you are a fisherman. I know people who fish, and I know people who know where the fish live, where they work, where they send their kids to school - you get the picture. I feel that Peter, James, and John were that kind of fishermen. They had learned it from their father, who most likely learned it from his. My point is. They should have fish. 

I suspect that they, at some point, were becoming very frustrated. I can hear Peter saying, "They should be here!!"  

How many times have we looked at our plans with confusion and frustration? We know what we are doing, and it should work - but.  

But what we do next is very, very important.  

#1 - Ask yourself. Is this what God wants me to do right now? Is God frustrating my efforts? 

#2 - Ask yourself. How can God be glorified through this disaster?  

#3 - Ask yourself. How am I going to respond to this? Am I going to blame God, or will I worship Him regardless? 

#4 - Ask yourself. What does God want me to do now? What is His will?  

Pray: Dear Jesus, I have tried, but I have failed. You are my God through my success and failures. I am asking that Your will be done in my life today. In Jesus' Name, I pray - Amen.  

Photo by Xavi Cabrera on Unsplash