Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.
He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
(John 21:1-6)
What do you do when Jesus tells you to throw your nets over to the other side of the boat?
You immediately toss your nets to the other side, right?
Ding, ding, ding that's the correct answer.
Unfortunately if you're like me, that isn't always what you do.
Instead, we look at the situation and try to explain to Jesus (because He needs our help—NOT!) that we've already spent the whole night fishing and caught nothing. The fish just aren't biting. What's the use of throwing the nets to the other side?
If I'm being completely honest, I have to admit that it's been that kind of a week for me. After quite a struggle and many hours of “What do You want me to do?” prayers, I received an answer.
Honestly, after the initial euphoria of the moment of spending time with Jesus wore the off the rational part of my brain started thinking “This doesn't make any sense.”
As I was talking to Jesus about it, He reminded me of this story in the Bible
Again, I was reminded that it wasn't until the disciples actually cast their nets to the other side that they had a miraculous catch of fish.
It was only when they obeyed the voice of the master, even though they didn't understand, that Jesus worked a miracle.
Which brings us to the question of “Why?”
Why could they catch fish on one side of the boat and not the other?
Was Jesus testing their obedience?
Was He trying to show them that without Him their efforts were futile?
Maybe He prevented them from catching fish all night so He could perform a miracle.
Who knows for sure?
All we know for a fact is that when they obeyed, He provided.
With that truth in mind, I will obey.
So what's keeping you from throwing your net on the other side of the boat?
What's stopping us from taking that step of faith and doing what we know God told us to do?
Is it possible that this same thing is keeping you from the miracle or blessing you've been working so hard and struggling to obtain?
It's an interesting question—-one I've been asking myself as I gather my courage and take the first steps toward obedience—-of throwing my own net on the other side of the boat and waiting to see what Jesus has in Mind.
Believing for a miracle!
--Adessa
