No Light in Sight....Monday

10/12/15

Have you ever been an emotional and spiritual mess? Where everything you had come to believe as true, and right, and part of God's plan, now appears to have ended in the worst way possible? Have you felt crushed in spirit or downhearted? It turns out that God actually has a plan for when plans come crashing down.

The Apostle Peter, the impulsive and passionate disciple, faced his own failure as a follower of Christ. He had, as Jesus said he would, denied Christ 3 times in one night after emphatically protesting that he would never do such a thing. Worse than that, His Master had been handed over to be crucified. The leader that he loved and believed in was going to his death without a fight. Peter had seen Jesus do incredible miracles and Peter was so confident of what their future would hold. But now his mind was whirling as his expectations of the future were torn to shreds.

When everything I have believed and hoped for comes crashing down around me, and there is no light visible at the end of my tunnel, I tend to frantically search for something that I can do with my hands and focus my mind on. I make a list of things I can do. For those of us who grasp for something tangible, it turns out we are doing what Peter did in response to his grief and failure.

Peter decided to go back to the only thing he knew how to do. Fish. Jesus had called Peter to "Come, Follow Me" at the edge of the Sea of Galilee (see Matthew 4:18-20). Now that Peter had failed at following Jesus, he decided to go back to his old life. He announced his intention of going fishing and some of the other disciples chose to join him. They fished all night. They caught nothing. They were fishing in frustration.



In the early hours, Jesus appeared on the shore line and calls out to them asking if they have caught any fish. They answer "no"; not knowing who is on the shore. The Man on the shore suggests they throw their net on the other side of their boat. I suspect these "fishermen" didn't appreciate his advice, they had been professional fishermen, after all. But they follow the suggestion, and the net is so full they can barely hold onto it and haul it to the shore. It is John who recognizes that it is Jesus who is waiting for them.

Impulsively, Peter jumps out of the boat and into the water and heads to Jesus. As Peter rushes to Him, I imagine a mix of emotions are flooding through him: joy that Jesus is somehow alive, and shame of his own actions. Then, instead of rejection or judgment, Jesus has a fire, fish, and forgiveness waiting for Peter (see John 21:15-19).

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?”

He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep."

John 21:17 NIV

When life seems to be nothing but storms and there is no light in sight, we have this encouragement from God's Word:

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;

    he saves those whose spirits are crushed.

Psalm 34:18 CEB

The Lord is good,

A strength and stronghold in the day of trouble;

He knows [He recognizes, cares for, and understands fully] 
those who take refuge and trust in Him.

Nahum 1:7 AMP

Dear Lord, thank You Lord for knowing us better than we know ourselves. Thank You for assuring us that You know that we love You but that the circumstances in our lives are to help us to recognize when we are counting on our plans - no matter how good. Please give us the faith and courage to follow Peter's example, to jump out of the boat of familiarity, and use all of our strength to follow You. In Jesus name, amen.

Written by Mary M. Wilkins

Tenth Avenue North performs "You Are More"