Are you kidding me! The disciples had just seen the resurrected Christ days earlier. He had breathed the Holy Spirit into them and given them their commission. And now they were back in the boats fishing! Seriously, what were they thinking?
Okay, Alice, breathe. These guys were human, too, remember?
When I was reading the short passage in John, I really had to stop and check myself. These were the Disciples, with a capital D. Weren't they supposed to be just a little super-human?
Then I flipped back a couple of pages in John's Gospel. Oh yeah, they were flawed, just like me. Empathy began to flow.
The disciples had been on a roller-coaster ride of emotions in a very short amount of time, starting with Jesus's triumphant ride into Jerusalem. Woo-hoo! Palms and hosannas: here we go, boys, we're on our way now!
Less than a week later they watched their Messiah, Hero, and Leader be tried, beaten, humiliated, and executed. Where was the party now?
The party was on the other side of the tomb. Their host was the only Son of the Living God, Jesus the Christ. When they were too frightened to venture out after the horrific events that seemed to spell the end of their mission, Jesus came to them. And He didn't even have to ring the doorbell!
And then they went back to the boats . . .
Okay, Alice, breathe. These guys were human, too, remember?
When I was reading the short passage in John, I really had to stop and check myself. These were the Disciples, with a capital D. Weren't they supposed to be just a little super-human?
Then I flipped back a couple of pages in John's Gospel. Oh yeah, they were flawed, just like me. Empathy began to flow.
The disciples had been on a roller-coaster ride of emotions in a very short amount of time, starting with Jesus's triumphant ride into Jerusalem. Woo-hoo! Palms and hosannas: here we go, boys, we're on our way now!
Less than a week later they watched their Messiah, Hero, and Leader be tried, beaten, humiliated, and executed. Where was the party now?
The party was on the other side of the tomb. Their host was the only Son of the Living God, Jesus the Christ. When they were too frightened to venture out after the horrific events that seemed to spell the end of their mission, Jesus came to them. And He didn't even have to ring the doorbell!
And then they went back to the boats . . .
I think the whirlwind of emotions must have been 100 times greater than even the days and weeks before and after a wedding, or the birth of a child. We seem to be able to hold on to the exhilaration only for so long. Don't you know the disciples had to have been wrung out?
And what do we do in those times? It seems for some of us, we go back to what's comfortable, familiar. We need to get our bearings again, function without too much thought. Perhaps this was what drove the disciples to the shore.
Or perhaps it was simply to put food on the table.
Or maybe there was a bigger plan in place.
Have you been chosen to do something special? A marriage, a vocation, a sacrifice? You've been called and believe you're ready, but what's up with the timing? Maybe you're like me, and feel like you're on the backside of the moon instead of vigorously pursuing God's plan for your life. Do you sometimes feel like you're in the dark about the next step? Me, too!
Chapter 21 of John's Gospel reminds me that everyone needs a breather once in a while. That doesn't mean God is ignoring us. Maybe He's watching, or preparing us. Sometimes I have to be reminded that at the very least, even when it doesn't feel like it, God's watching over us.
May I share something that's been very precious to me for at least two decades? This excerpt from Habakkuk has been my "rhema" (my special word from God): "For still the vision awaits its time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seem slow, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay," (Habakkuk 2:30 RSV).
Dear Reader, if you've gotten back into the boat(s), please take heart. God knows exactly where you are and exactly what you need. He loves you very much and won't let you drift for long. "Sit back, relax, and leave the driving to (Him)."
And what do we do in those times? It seems for some of us, we go back to what's comfortable, familiar. We need to get our bearings again, function without too much thought. Perhaps this was what drove the disciples to the shore.
Or perhaps it was simply to put food on the table.
Or maybe there was a bigger plan in place.
Have you been chosen to do something special? A marriage, a vocation, a sacrifice? You've been called and believe you're ready, but what's up with the timing? Maybe you're like me, and feel like you're on the backside of the moon instead of vigorously pursuing God's plan for your life. Do you sometimes feel like you're in the dark about the next step? Me, too!
Chapter 21 of John's Gospel reminds me that everyone needs a breather once in a while. That doesn't mean God is ignoring us. Maybe He's watching, or preparing us. Sometimes I have to be reminded that at the very least, even when it doesn't feel like it, God's watching over us.
May I share something that's been very precious to me for at least two decades? This excerpt from Habakkuk has been my "rhema" (my special word from God): "For still the vision awaits its time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seem slow, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay," (Habakkuk 2:30 RSV).
Dear Reader, if you've gotten back into the boat(s), please take heart. God knows exactly where you are and exactly what you need. He loves you very much and won't let you drift for long. "Sit back, relax, and leave the driving to (Him)."
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