*2013 National Indie Excellence Award Finalist*
Suddenly
Simon said, “Master, we've been fishing hard all night
and haven't caught even a minnow. But if you say so, I'll let out the nets.” It
was no sooner said than done—a huge haul of fish, straining the nets past
capacity. They waved to their partners in the other boat to come help them.
They filled both boats, nearly swamping them with the catch.
When you are the parent of a child whose needs are complex
and difficult, the days roll into months and years. The amount of effort can
feel so tremendous compared to the amount of lasting gains. We may cry out to
God, “We’ve been hard at it during this night season, and we haven’t caught
even a minnow!” When Simon says this to Jesus, he has good reason. Simon is an
expert fisherman; he runs a business and knows when and where to catch fish. He
has come back exhausted and empty-handed, but Jesus tells him to go out again
and put the nets in the water one more time. It seems futile to Peter and the
fishermen with him, because they have been out there all night trying so hard
and have come back so very exhausted.
Yet, when the Master says it, they do it. They know Him and
trust Him. His word means something true to them. They have that kind of
relationship, and “it was no sooner said than done!” Suddenly there is a
breakthrough where there had been no breakthrough. Suddenly there is supply
where there had been no supply. Suddenly there is abundance where there had
been lack. “Suddenly,” after a long night of nothing, everything changed at the
command of Jesus. Their “huge haul” of fish was surprising, abundant, and so
heavy that it nearly sank the boats.
1. Beloved, have you been “fishing hard all night?” Have you
done everything you know to do, but have come back exhausted and empty-handed?
I pray that your heart will be open to unexpected wisdom from the Father. I
pray that your hard night will turn “suddenly” into abundance and breakthrough!
2. How can you open your heart to hearing from God after
such a long time of feeling empty-handed? In what ways can you strengthen your
relationship with the Master so that you will go out and try again, trusting
Him to be true to His Word?
