Caught by Surprise

After (Jesus) had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. Luke 5:4-7

Have you ever sucked at something so bad that the only sane thing to do was quit? We’ve all heard the proverbial definition of insanity, “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” But there is something truer than this proverb about failure that we need to hear.

Early in our ministry in Las Vegas, I had an experience of complete failure in finding a place for our new church to meet. After endless attempts for over a year and meeting with countless store front owners, I had all but given up. I came to the point of utter emotional and spiritual exasperation in finding a place to meet. Getting alone with God, I opened my Bible to Luke 5:1-11, that records Jesus’ disciples who had fished all night and caught nothing. However, the next day, at Jesus command they threw their nets in one more time and caught a great number of fish. So many fish were caught that two boats started to capsize and additional boats had to be brought in. Peter, caught by surprise, recognized Jesus’ divinity and became aware of his own depravity and sin, wanted to be left alone.

Sometimes God allows us to experience failure so that we have the opportunity to see him as he truly is. We are caught by surprise, and end up standing in awe of his greatness and goodness. Like Peter, our astonishment of him, often spins us into fear of what Jesus demands, but the choice remains, to follow him above all else.

After reading this story, I heard the Lord speak into my heart, “Throw the net in one more time.” I kid you not; the next day, I called on a property where the owner had intended to permit as a bar. He had even turned me down previously several times. Caught by surprise, I was stunned when he did a complete about-face and agreed to meet with me and show the property. Within days, we had signed a lease and started making plans to build it out. It turned out that my greatest failure was only an opportunity for God to reveal his greatness and goodness to me. He continues to surprise me and call me out into deeper waters to follow him above all else.

Friend, don’t be put off by a losing season, failed grades, inability to land a good job, or personal failure. There is often a bigger story going on that will bring us to the end of ourselves and to acknowledge our sin. Then, we can re-discover God’s goodness, as he calls us out into deeper waters of faith to follow him.

What do you need to do to ‘throw the net in one more time’ rather than quit? How is God revealing his greatness and goodness to you right now? Is there anything that is holding you back from leaving everything and following him?

Prayer

Father God, thank you for catching me by surprise. I stand in awe of your greatness and goodness, and give to you all of my failure and sin. I choose to listen to you and push out into the deeper waters beyond my failures to experience your power, love, and grace. Give to me the courage and strength to throw the net in one more time and follow Christ above all else. In Jesus Name, Amen