So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish (John 21:3-6).
Our Father, You are the source of all life and growth. In the beginning You, O God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). You spoke over a formless and empty earth, and brought light, and life, and order, and flow, into existence.
You spoke Your bounty and Your abundance over the land, the waters, and the sky, so that the land produced vegetation, the waters teemed with living creatures, and every winged bird soared across the vault of the sky (Genesis 1:11-12, 20-21). And then You gave them as gifts to humanity, providing for every need (Genesis 1:29; 9:3).
You are still Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides. Yet, so often, we forget, and credit our own expertise and our own knowledge, forgetting that all we have comes from You. Until, like the disciples, we come to a brand new dawning, and realize that after the long night we have caught nothing, despite our history, our skills, and our experience.
O Lord God, thank You that You do not abandon us! Thank You that You are still there at the end of our long, hard, nights when we gaze in consternation, frustration, anger, and anxiety at our empty nets.
Thank You God of tender mercies that You do not leave us in hopeless futility. Thank You that our loving God and Savior, who created all resources, who caused the waters to teem, waits with the sunshine of the new dawn. Thank You that He redirects us in His wisdom, His power, His omnipotence.
Lord, today, we lift to You our empty nets. We lift to You our "end-of" situations. End of careers, end of ventures, end of relationships, end of marriages, end of parenting, end of tenure, end of resources, end of investments, end of our rope, end of ourselves.
Grant us new beginnings. Teach us to recognize the voice of Jesus calling to us across the vast divide of our own fruitless efforts. Calling us into friendship and fellowship. Telling us where to cast our nets.
Revive our hearts O God! Restore our hope with Your peace, Your presence, Your provision. Fill our nets to overflowing with Your bountiful grace as we trust and follow You. Even at— especially at—the end of.
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