I found myself doing these things and seriously expecting different results. Thoughts twirl, emotions chaotic as disappointment sets in. The snowball grows and I become more frustrated or hurt with others as the arguing compiles in my mind. Desiring to quit and give up before I have even begun. I contemplated the question, How’s that working for ya?
John 21:3-6 shares a story told about Jesus, Peter and the disciples. “Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.”“We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. John 21:3-6
Picturing the disciples tired, cold, weary to the bone, yet frustrated with not catching a thing. As they get closer to shore, somebody standing on land has the nerve to ask if they caught anything! I can just picture Peter rolling his eyes, sneering as he looks at the other disciples and says, “Are you kidding me? That yahoo on shore has the audacity to ask us, the professional fishermen if we have caught anything!”
They did not know it was Jesus at the time. Could they have been so wrapped up in their frustration they didn’t recognize him? It is difficult to see Him through a haze of disappointment. The Bible says that they just answered “NO” but I can imagine so much more. The disciples were people like you and I. They acted and responded just like us. Put yourself in their shoes for a moment. How would you have responded?
Jesus asked a simple question. By asking if they caught any fish I hear him seriously ask, “How’s that working for ya? You keep trying the same thing over and over again. Is it working? “
Similar to Jesus’ direction to the disciples, to cast their net on the other side, he tells us to try another approach. If what you are doing is not working, cast your net on the other side! Do something different. Make changes. Draw boundaries. Think good thoughts. Surround yourself with the right people. Read your Bible. Say no.
Since insanity is not an option in the Christian life, do something different and cast your net on the other side. We may be surprised with the results……