Fire And Rain

Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 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. John 21:2'3 WEB.

As the disciples stood there together, Peter said: "I am going fishing." He meant that he was going to return to his old way of life. Peter, along with his brother Andrew, and James and John, were all fishermen when Jesus called them (Mark 1:18). Jesus told them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." They became His closest disciples. Peter even walked on water with Jesus (Matthew 14:28). James and John were so zealous for Jesus that He called them "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17).

Only a few days before this scripture, they saw their life and future differently, so much brighter. They had walked closely with Jesus every day, the Messiah, the Anointed One, God with us. The disciples just knew that Jesus would soon be the next king, that they would be ruling with Him, and it would involve thrones and fine clothes. Now it seemed that God had let them all down, and Jesus Himself had been crucified. Their faith was in shambles.

The disciples at that point were no longer in tune with the plan of God. They couldn't see past the pain, the hurt, the natural circumstances that had occurred. They felt defeated, even though everything had happened exactly as God had planned it. They had once walked in the fire. Now they walked in the rain.

Sometimes the fire inside of us gets wet. We were expecting this but instead got that. We planned this, but it didn't work out as we had hoped. When this happens, we need to be sure that our plans and vision are still the same as His. That's all that matters. Giving up and returning to the past isn't the answer. Correcting our course is: "OK, Lord. I am not sure why that happened, but here I am. Now what?"

God can relight the fire if you can set aside the disappointment. Trust Him, especially when you don't understand why this is happening. Don't become lukewarm because you thought you knew best, but God didn't listen. Don't say, "Well, I tried it, and it didn't work for me. I am going back to what I know how to do." Don't begin to think that the trip is over when you are only at an intersection. Get your new direction, and continue the journey.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I don't understand what happened, but I choose to trust You. Give me a clear vision of Your plans and help me to align my will with Yours. I want what You want. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

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