Try Again

Life is hard. Relationships can be messy. Pursuing your dreams can be a challenge. The work to “make ends meet” can test your strength and endurance.
 
Try again.

Peter James and John were fishermen in Israel. Hard workers, their livelihood relied on each night’s catch. And sometimes the catch just wasn’t there...

Can you hear the weariness in Simon Peter’s voice in this interaction with Jesus? Peter had lent Jesus his boat to teach the crowds:
 
“When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.’
 
‘Master,’ Simon replied, ‘we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing.” (Luke 5:4-5 NLT)
 
Perhaps frustrated and disappointed, Peter was tired. Maybe he was ready to call it a day and go home to sleep. But his next line is why we love Peter so much:
 
“‘But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.’” (Luke 5:5)
 
And he did. Peter pushed out into the deep and “this time their nets were so full they began to tear!” 
 
Try again.
 
Sometimes we give in too quickly. Sometimes we let our weary bodies or weary souls dictate our lives too much.
 
Maybe it's not time to give up on that relationship or ditch your business dream. What is God speaking? Is the Holy Spirit nudging you to try again? 
 
It may sound cliché, but it's true: your breakthrough could be just around the corner. Your miracle may happen today or tomorrow or next week if you can just hold on a little longer, believe a little stronger.
 
Peter was awestruck at what God did for him. I pray you will be too.
 
“When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, ‘Oh, Lord, please leave me – I’m such a sinful man.’ For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him.” (Luke 5:8-9)
 
 
Photo by Nilantha Sanjeewa on Unsplash