Listen

Later, Jesus himself appeared again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. This is how it happened: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two other disciples were together. Simon Peter told them, “I’m going fishing.”

They said, “We’ll go with you.” They set out in a boat, but throughout the night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples didn’t realize it was Jesus.

Jesus called to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?”

They answered him, “No.”

John 21:1-5

Think

Can you put yourself in the boat with these fishermen disciples of Jesus? Can you imagine their defeat? Can you feel how hungry they were after a full night of fishing, to have nothing in their nets? Finally, can you imagine how they must have felt when a stranger called to them from the shore with a question that required them to admit their failure?

While a night of fishing on the sea may not be familiar to all of us, failure certainly is. No matter the task, admitting our failure to accomplish it can make us feel adrift on a dark sea; however, admitting our failure to God opens us to transformation and restoration.

Can we even imagine what blessings our Lord would bestow on us if we not only hunger and work for God but if we also continue to do so in the face of defeat and failure? Maybe not; but we can trust that the Lord will be faithful.

Sarah Boatwright

Pray

Empty me of selfish desires and make me hunger for you, Loving Lord. Pick me up when I fall and grant me the strength to stand and to seek you always. Amen.

Go

Forsake foolishness and live, and go in the way of understanding.

Proverbs 9:6 (New King James Version)