Have you ever failed? More specifically, have you ever put forth a lot time and energy into a project or task, only to have it utterly fail?
In Luke 5:1-11 we read the story of Jesus calling his first disciples to follow him, and it’s a story that begins with failure – not in the sequence of verses, per se. If we place ourselves into the story and imagine the events that led up to the narrative in the text, we can infer that because Simon Peter and his fishing partners failed to catch any fish the night before, they were along the shore tending their nets instead of hawking fresh fish at the local market. As it was, because of their lack of fishing success, they were there as Jesus found himself pressed up against the water line by a crowd of people desiring to hear Him teach. They were there to row Jesus out on one of their boats so he could be heard and seen by more people. In this instance, their failure as fishermen put them in a position to serve Jesus and enable more people to hear the message of the Kingdom.
Furthermore, I can imagine Simon sitting in the boat listening to the teaching of the man who had recently miraculously healed his mother-in-law. Was he fully engaged, hanging on to Jesus’ words, or was he distracted with the thoughts of how he and his coworkers would not have any income that day? Was he looking out at the Sea of Galilee wondering what they could have done differently to have ensured a better outcome? We may never know. But, what we do know is that he was reluctant to obey Jesus’ command to cast the net into the water once the teaching had concluded. “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing!” he countered. “But, at your word I will let down the nets.” Of course, we know what happened next – a record and net-breaking catch so impressive Peter fell to his knees and exclaimed, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
Once the second boat and crew came out and helped Peter haul this massive catch to the shore, the text tells us they “left everything and followed him.” Left everything – including the most spectacular success of their lives. Hundreds, maybe thousands of fish left for people, birds and other critters to snatch up. Multiple days’ wages left as an offering on the altar of following Jesus. These fishermen went from utter failure to enormous earthly success to true, eternal success.
What I want to highlight here is that this story depended on what was likely divinely-orchestrated failure in that seasoned fishermen who gave all they had to give and reaped nothing did so in order to gain everything. Their failure led them to be in just the right place to unexpectedly encounter and serve Jesus and others. Their failure presented an opportunity for Jesus to create an even greater contrast between their unfruitful toil and his abundant provision. Their failure led to a recognition of their weakness and God’s greatness. And, ultimately, their failure and then overwhelming success created an even more compelling display of commitment as they walked away from the best catch of their lives to, as Jesus put it, “become fishers of men.”
Maybe this resonates with you. Maybe you’ve experienced failure that God later used to teach, grow and lead you. Or, maybe you’re in the midst of that failure right now and need to be reminded that God’s good plan for you does not depend on your earthly success, and that it’s in our weakness and failures that God moves in powerful ways to show us His goodness, wisdom and faithfulness. Remember to promise of Romans 8:28-30, and remember the failure of three Galilean fishermen – Peter, James and John – whose stories and words are in the Bible to encourage and teach us today to trust in Jesus Christ to turn our failures into fulfillment of his promises and purposes.
Photo Creator: Anry01 | Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
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