Dear ones, do you like the sport of fishing? Now, I know that there are the really serious fishermen and fisherwomen and then there are those like me—a female who likes to fish so that I can get a natural tan. To me, it was a lot of work just preparing to go fishing all day in our boat. After packing up my daughter’s stuff, my stuff, and Mickey, my husband’s stuff … we were ready for the good stuff—fishing! Off in the car we’d head to Lake Lewisville, tugging our boat behind our car. After waiting in line an hour to dock the boat, unloading Kim and her stuff, and all our stuff … is there any energy left to fish?
Once in the boat, we took off, looking for a nice place to drop our hooks. After all, it’s all about location, location, location, right? After anchoring the boat, I’d grab my pole and yes, wait for Mickey to bait the hook. I loved to fish but hated to bait the hook. Yet, the most important part of the entire trip was when a fish took the bait, got hooked, and I got to reel it in! The “reeling it in” part is what actually baits US for the next fishing excursion! Oh, the experience of a successful catch can be addicting!
Peter Loved Fishing, Too!
A few weeks ago, I was praying over our Sunday service at Lifegate Church in Hurst, Texas, and I was asking the Lord what He wanted me to minister. I clearly heard Him say, “Tell them that if they can let it all go, then they are positioned to have it all.” I was dumbfounded at first, not having a clue as to where the Spirit was leading me. I pressed for more clarity and I had a vision of someone walking away from a large net full of fish, letting the net, the fish, the boat … and basically letting it all go, and jumping into all that God was offering him for the future.
Wow! Where is that in the Word, Lord? The Lord clearly spoke to me about Peter and how he left a net full of fish to swim after Jesus and his own destiny. The passage picks up in John 21 after the Resurrection and Jesus appearing to His disciples proving the fact that He truly had risen. Yet, we notice in verse 3 that Peter decides to go back to what he knew in the natural to do, which was to return to fishing. Peter was disappointed, and due to his confusion and disappointment, his default button was to return back to his old occupation, fishing.
Think about it, aren’t we the same way at times? When our faith is met with disappointment, we often revert to an old comfort zone. Reader, there’s more. You will relate to this article, so keep reading!
I Go a Fishin’
John 21:2-6 says, “Simon Peter; Thomas, called The Twin; Nathanael of Cana in Galilee; the sons of Zebedee; and two more of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ Then they said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and immediately entered the boat. But that night they caught nothing. When the morning came, Jesus stood on the shore. But the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, ‘Children, do you have any fish?’ They answered Him, ‘No.’ He said to them, ‘Throw the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they threw it, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the abundance of fish.”
Can you picture it? Jesus had died. He seemingly had deserted the disciples, at least that’s what they thought! Even though Jesus had explained to them that He must die and it was all part of heaven’s plan, it was difficult for them to comprehend, especially for Peter! Why? Because Peter thought that Jesus had come as an earthly king with promise to conquer their enemies. Hopefully Peter might be Vice-King or at least Secretary of State!
I know you can chuckle with me a bit, but let me just say it was easy to follow Jesus during persecution if there was a reward, such as position in a new kingdom! But now, Jesus had died, Peter’s hopes of an earthly reign was demolished, and he saw no hope for a future in spreading the gospel. When his disappointment gave way to major confusion concerning his destiny, Peter reverted back to what he knew to do. So he told the other disciples, “I know what I’m going to do, ‘I go a fishin’!” (paraphrased, see verse 3).
Janet Perez Eckles 
Shawn Akers 
Abby Trivett 
