If you have looked for a job, you know how many postings you have to tread through to find a job description that matches your skills. Then you have to tailor your resume, so those skills stand out, hoping the recruiter or AI bot will find your skills to match. There could be a candidate already selected, yet the job description has to be publicly posted. Or, it could be a call for resumes, just in case the company wins a contract with that job.
Job hunting can be like casting your fishing pole into the water to catch a fish.
You can do everything right, but you don’t know if you will catch a fish. You may catch one for dinner or a whole bucket. All you can do is cast a line and hope for the best.
This morning I read about the first disciples of Jesus in Luke, chapter 5. Jesus taught a crowd from Simon’s boat in the water. After teaching, Jesus asked Simon to row the boat out into the deeper water and let down the nets to catch fish. Simon said they didn’t catch any fish all night. Since Jesus asked, Simon followed Jesus’s instructions. He caught so many fish, that he needed help and filled a second boat. When Simon understood what happened, the miracle that had taken place, he fell to his knees and confessed that he was a sinful man not worthy of the presence of Jesus. In response, Jesus said not to be afraid, now he will be a fisher of people. Simon and his fellow fishermen left everything to follow Jesus. They were the first disciples.
The First Disciples
One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.
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. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.
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. His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed.
Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.
—Luke 5:1-11 (NLT)
We search and search. We just need that one job or that one thing in our lives. We focus on what we can see and understand. Are we missing the goodness of God in the search? God has a plan and can provide for all our needs. I want to know how and when that plan is happening. Just like fishing all night and not getting a fish is disheartening and frustrating, so is the unknown. It is easy to give up. Somehow we have to keep going, especially when we feel that gentle nudge to try again. That may be the opportunity that works out.
When Simon comprehended the miracle from Jesus, he said “Oh Lord please leave me, I am a sinful man.” Simon saw how good Jesus is and did not feel worthy of his presence.
None of us are worthy, Jesus loves us anyway. If you believe in Jesus, you have hope for the future. Some days, you just have to follow Jesus’s instructions, even if you don’t think the outcome will be different this time. We can only see a limited view of the world. God sees it all from the beginning of time to the end of time. God may be using your continued faith, while you wait, to reach others and make you a fisher of men too.
