Simon Peter said to them, 'I'm going fishing.' They told him, 'We are also coming with you.' They immediately went out, and entered into the boat. That night, they caught nothing. But when day had already come, Jesus stood on the beach, yet the disciples didn't know that it was Jesus. John 21:3 WEB

While standing by the shore of the sea of Galilee with the waves gently rolling in, Peter was so discouraged. Jesus, who he had thought was the Messiah and soon to be king, had been beaten, scourged and crucified. On top of that Peter had denied that he even knew Him three times and had then abandoned Jesus at the last moment. Peter had not even attended the crucifixion, or the burial. Now Jesus was gone, and everything that Peter thought that God was doing in his life had fallen apart.

This was Peter's fork in the road. Certainly God had been with them at the beginning, that was clear, but where was He now? Peter gave up on the dream and said: 'I am going fishing.' In other words, he would return to his old way of life. When he did, Jesus appeared to him on the shore and called him right back to the work that he had left. Though things had taken an unexpected turn, everything was still right on schedule. Peter just did not see it.

Sometimes God calls us to do something, and then it appears to fall apart, but in the bigger picture, everything is right on schedule. When this happens our tendency is to return to our past. I have done this more than once myself.

Jesus is always calling us forward, and never into our past. God has plans for you and the new battle scars only mean that you are a veteran. If you decide to stop and go fishing, know that you will not catch anything and that Jesus will be calling you back to the work and into your future.

Prayer: Heavenly Father guide me this day. Help me to see the way clearly. Direct my paths and speak to me in a way that I understand and know that it is You. I want more of You in my life Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

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