God lifted me
As the crowd was pressing in on Jesus to hear God’s word, He was standing by Lake Gennesaret. He saw two boats at the edge of the lake; the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the land. Then He sat down and was teaching the crowds from the boat. When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” “Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing! But at Your word, I’ll let down the nets.” When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets began to tear. Luke 5:1-6 From the text, the Apostle Peter and the rest of the disciples came back from a night of fishing without success. Not even a measly catch! There was nothing. They were skilled fishermen, yet Jesus told them to go back and once again throw the nets into the water. It was a humbling experience wherein the son of a carpenter telling the fishermen how to fish. This was a difficult command from God. Fishing is backbreaking job, and how frustrating it was for them that they worked all night jut to come home without any catch. Then here comes Jesus telling them to go back to the deep part of the water. They obeyed and returned in the deeper part of the sea where they caught a great amount of fish that their nets almost tear. Jesus brought Peter to a point of inadequacy and once again proved to him and the rest of the disciples that He should be trusted. When we come to a point of failure and uncertainty, He is there to lift us up. He does bring us to a place where He alone can rescue us. God did not come to this world and save us so He could make life easy for us. When times of uncertainties come, we should not rely on our strength but continue to place our faith in Him. Peter and the rest of the disciples have to learn from this experience for God will call them to become fishers of men (see Luke 5:10). Probably you have been where Peter was where you relied more on your knowledge and strength then to just come home empty. It is during times of failure that God gets your undivided attention. From that point of failure, He wants you to listen to Him and trust that God will use the opportunity to bring about a revelation of who He is in your life. Don’t give up when you fall instead allow Him to lift you up.
Blessings,
Noel De Guzman
www.my-wbc.com