Written by Eunice Monda
Simon Peter and his business partners had gone fishing for the whole night. They were expert fishermen. They knew the right time to do the job and had committed themselves to it. Although, they worked so hard the whole night, they caught nothing.
In the morning, Simon Peter was frustrated, tired and weary, cleaning his nets. Little did he know that Jesus was pursuing him. Jesus asked him to put his boat out a little from the shore. Then, Jesus sat down and taught the people. When He finished speaking, He told Simon Peter to take his boat out into the deep water and let down the nets for a catch.
Peter answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets”. When he did, he caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. They signaled to their partners to come and help them. This is an amazing story of what God can do in the midst of frustrations – only God’s intervention brings a solution.
Andrew Murray, a South African Christian leader said,
I am here by God’s appointment, in His keeping, under His training, for His time.’’
When life gets tough and things don’t go your way, do not be discouraged. Trust God even when you don’t understand, God is always pursuing the frustrated because of His love. He shows them how great His power is and convinces them of their sin and unworthiness. Luke 5:8(b) “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”
Sometimes God brings adversity into the lives of His people so that they might live to prove that Jesus is more precious to them than anything else.
We always have to remember that, as human beings, we have limitations but relying upon the Lord, impossibilities become possibilities. All that is required is that we trust the Word of Jesus even if it does not make sense. This explains why the Word of God in Proverbs 3:5-7 says,
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.”
Our God delights in surprising us!
You have known such hardship and yet you speak such encouraging words. You are such an inspiration. You and your ministry are in my prayers.