A Troublesome Night

by Heather Tietz

He [Jesus] said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” They cast it therefore, and now they weren’t able to draw it in for the multitude of fish.

John 21:6

What a beautiful picture we have of Jesus waiting for His fisherman to come to shore.  It had been a long night for them. They were exhausted and frustrated.  Jesus knew. “Cast the net on the right side of the boat. You’ll find some.” So they do! Fish suddenly flood the net, and the disciples haul it alongside the boat to shore. All seven are amazed. Did Jesus actually call fish into an empty net? What else can He do? John recognizes right away that this is 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.” We think God is too far away, or perhaps we are too unworthy for His righteous hand. Perhaps we simply haven’t talked to Him in a long time.  The Bible says 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. Is He watching our flailing efforts? Is He waiting for us to converse with Him? God is omnipotent. He is just a prayer away.