When Life Leaves You Empty-Handed
We've all been there. You work hard, you work diligently, you put in long hours, and you've still got nothing to show for it. You give it your best shot and still come up short. How do we handle discouragement in our pursuit of God’s dream for our lives?
What Can I Do in a Discouraging Situation?
Luke 5:1-3 tells us: "One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat."
Picture the scene: At daybreak, these fishermen come ashore after 10 hours of fishing, having caught nothing. They're tired, they're discouraged. There's no coffee in first-century Galilee to help them power through. They've got empty boats and empty nets. And that's when Jesus comes along.
Give Jesus Complete Access to My Life
Peter and the other fishermen probably didn't feel like having some stranger commandeer their vessel early in the morning after they had been out toiling on the lake all night, working hard with nothing to show for it. But Peter had already witnessed Jesus' power; Jesus had even healed Peter's mother-in-law of a serious illness.
The boat represented Peter's livelihood. It probably represented the livelihood of generations of men in his family. It was something he took pride in, where he provided for his family. Peter's identity was tied up in that boat… and he chose to let Jesus in.
Whatever you do to make your living, wherever it is you find your identity, Jesus asks a simple question: “Would you let me in? Would you let me use your platform for my purposes?” Because if Jesus is going to help you when you've come up empty, he first needs access to every part of your life.
Admit My Efforts Aren’t Working
Luke 5:4-5 records Jesus' instruction and Peter's honest response: "When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, 'Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.' Simon answered, 'Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything.'"
Do you ever felt like this? You've worked all night and haven't caught anything? Haven't made a sale, haven't closed a deal, haven't sold a house, haven't stepped up. In fact, maybe you're out of work right now. “We've worked hard all night and we've caught nothing.” You can hear the discouragement in Peter's voice.
The reality is everybody's fishing for something. Sometimes we're fishing for approval. We're looking out there and we're trying to find somebody to just love us. Nothing wrong with that. Maybe you're fishing for security. Nothing wrong with that. Maybe you're fishing for significance. “I want my life to count.” Nothing wrong with that. Maybe you're fishing for a wife or a husband. Nothing wrong with that. Maybe you're out of work and you're fishing for a job. There's nothing wrong with that. Everybody's fishing for something.
Don't miss how significant it is for Peter to admit that his efforts at fishing aren't working. He is an expert fisherman who has spent his entire life on these waters. He knows them like the back of his hand, he has exhausted himself all night trying to bring in a catch, and this time, it just hasn't worked out for him.
Obey Whatever Jesus Tells Me to Do
Despite his expertise and exhaustion, Peter responds with remarkable humility in Luke 5:5: "Simon answered, 'Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.'"
I must be willing to do whatever Jesus tells me even if it doesn't make sense, even if it's illogical, even if it appears foolish and stupid to other people. Having reached the end of himself, Peter is ready to follow Jesus' instructions, even though he probably thought it was an exercise in futility.
How often do we stay in the shallows of life, where we feels safe, wondering what's out there for us in the depths but afraid to trust Jesus enough to go where he tells us to go?
Expect Jesus to Turn Things Around
Luke 5:6-7 describes the incredible result: "When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink."
Peter was humble enough to swallow his pride, suppress his skepticism, and expect that doing things Jesus' way was the only way out of the predicament he found himself in. He had seen Jesus teach and heal many people, and he had seen Jesus do those things for him personally.
As Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, "The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he'll do it!" (1 Thessalonians 5:24 MSG).
The Greater Purpose Behind the Miracle
Peter's reaction to this miracle reveals something profound. Luke 5:8-9 tells us: "When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, 'Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!' For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners."
But Jesus doesn't push Peter away. Instead, Luke 5:10-11 records: "Then Jesus said to Simon, 'Don't be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.' So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him."
Jesus' call to Peter starts with reassurance: “Don't be afraid!” Those words appear over and over again in the Bible when people encounter God and become too overwhelmed to act.
Jesus gives Peter reassurance, then he gives him the mission: “Go fish for people. Go catch people up in the kingdom of God that I'm letting loose on earth, and that I'm inviting you to live in. Go catch them so I can save them.”
And how do Peter and his friends react to this incredible call from this incredible man? They park their boats, drop their nets, leave it all behind, and follow his lead! They've just hauled in the most incredible catch of their lives, but when Jesus calls them, they forget all about it.
Putting It Into Practice
When you've come up empty, it might not make logical sense to give Jesus complete access to your life. It might seem like the only way out of the mess you're in is to work harder and figure things out on your own, to rise or fall on your own abilities. But until Jesus has complete access to your life, even to the parts you take pride in and want to hold onto, Jesus can't do what he wants to do to help you.
The good news is, when you've come up empty, you're in exactly the place you need to be to surrender your life to Jesus, to admit that his ways are greater than your ways, and to recognize that he knows you and your life even better than you do.
Here's what you can do today:
Give Jesus Access: Whatever you do to make your living, wherever it is you find your identity, Jesus asks a simple question: “Would you let me in? Would you let me use your platform for my purposes?”
Be Honest About Your Situation: Stop pretending you have it all figured out. Admit when your efforts aren't working and you've reached the end of yourself.
Obey Even When It Doesn't Make Sense: “I must be willing to do whatever he tells me even if it doesn't make sense, even if it's illogical, even if it appears foolish and stupid to other people."
Trust Jesus Completely: You can stop trusting only yourself, and you can trust Jesus completely and expect him to turn things around when you can't do it on your own.
Reflection
What area of your life represents your "boat," the place where you find not just income, but identity? Are you willing to let Jesus step into that space and use it for His purposes?
Like Peter, can you honestly admit to Jesus where your own efforts aren't working? What would it look like to humbly acknowledge that you've "worked hard all night and caught nothing"?
Jesus gave Peter very specific instructions: launch out now, let down your nets, go into deep water. What specific instruction might Jesus be giving you that requires courage to leave the safety of the shallows?
Peter's expectation that Jesus could turn things around was rewarded beyond his wildest dreams. How might your willingness to expect Jesus to work miraculously change your current situation?
Application
When you've come up empty, you're in exactly the place you need to be to surrender your life to Jesus. Today, choose one specific area where you've been working hard with little to show for it. Give Jesus complete access to that part of your life. Admit honestly that your efforts haven't been working. Then obey whatever Jesus tells you to do, even if it doesn't make logical sense. Remember, there's no faith without risk, and without faith, it's impossible to please God. Don't wait for perfect conditions, launch out now into the deep waters where Jesus wants to work miraculously in your life.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I come to you with empty nets and an exhausted heart. Like Peter, I've worked hard and have nothing to show for it. I give you complete access to every area of my life, especially the places where I find my identity and take pride in my abilities. I admit that my efforts aren't working, and I need you to do what I cannot do for myself. Give me the courage to obey whatever you tell me to do, even when it doesn't make sense. Help me launch out into the deep waters of faith, trusting that you know me and my situation better than I do. I expect you to turn things around, not just for a temporary blessing, but to call me into the greater purpose you have for my life. Don't let me be afraid of where you're leading me. I want to follow you completely. Amen
