I had the privilege of graduating from Blue Mountain Christian University, in Blue Mountain, Mississippi. I was blessed to be surrounded by great professors and a wonderful staff, who poured into my life and helped grow me in my walk with Christ. It was a season most remembered, as well as significantly cherished.
Over the past several years, I have resided in the great State of Texas and have enjoyed my time there immensely. However, during a twenty-minute phone call with the president of Blue Mountain Christian University, God redirected my journey, sending me back to the place He had used to make a profound impact on my life. I was to continue in the ministry of Entrusted Hope, yet now from a different location.
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you” (Psalm 32:8).
Along with others, Peter returned from a fishing trip that lingered throughout the night, yet they caught nothing. As they pulled their boats to shore and began washing their nets, unbeknownst to them, Jesus was on His way— not only to step on the scene, but to turn the situation completely around.
“Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the people from the boat. When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, ‘Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!’ For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.’ When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him (Luke 5:1-11).
Peter and the other men probably never saw this moment coming. As they focused on washing their nets, their thoughts probably drifted to the failed fishing endeavor from the previous night. Then, suddenly, Jesus stepped onto the scene.
The Lord then asked Peter to “put out a little way from the land.” In order for Peter to carry out the Lord’s bidding, he had to be willing to “get back into the boat,” from which he had previously exited. He obeyed. Next, when Jesus had finished speaking to the people, He asked Peter to carry out the following: “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Peter struggled to understand this command and even attempted to explain it had not worked before. Yet, instead of lingering in doubt, Peter chose to obey. Jesus blessed Peter with a great catch of fish and watched as amazement seized His disciple.
One never knows when Jesus will intervene in a broken family, in a broken spirit, or in a trial that has reaped havoc. One never knows when Jesus will say the words, “Get back into the boat and try again.” Many may be surprised to find Jesus is redirecting a journey they never saw coming. Yet, one thing is for certain—even though we may not know when Jesus will intervene in our situation or call us to do something that we never fathomed, we can know with great confidence that He will.
Peter was called to trust and obey the One giving him directives. Friends, we are also called to trust and obey. Jesus sees you, hears you, and is working even now on behalf of His children. When He steps on the scene of our situations, like Peter, may we find ourselves trusting and obeying what God is asking of us. We do not want to risk missing His best for our lives, even if those moments entail a redirected journey.
