The fishermen had endured a long, miserable night.

Not only were they exhausted, but they were frustrated as well. Their nets were empty! All that work — all that lost sleep — for nothing!

Jesus knew how demoralized they were. He gave simple, but seemingly ridiculous advice: “Cast the net on the right side of the boat.”

Instead of arguing that the right side of the boat was literally a few short feet away from the side of the boat they had been fishing from, the fishermen did what Jesus said.

Fish suddenly flooded the net and the disciples hauled it alongside the boat to shore in amazement. John immediately recognized the work of his omnipotent Lord.

Have we forgotten God’s unlimited power? Do we say, “The LORD has done this for others, but not for me.” Do we think God is too far away, or we are too unworthy for His deliverance?

God is merciful; He hears our cries.

In Psalm 118:4, David writes, “I called on the LORD in my distress; The LORD answered me and set me in a broad place,” a place of freedom from the worries and cares of life.

If our nets are empty, perhaps we need to look to the shore for our Savior. He waits for us to converse with Him. He is just a prayer away.