Overcome Frustrations –
It’s not easy to beat your head against the proverbial wall. Some folks are better at it than others. Those are the ones who will usually succeed. Are you one of them? Would you like to be one of them?
What happens when you get through those first rough spots on the way to your dream only to see a tidal wave of more intense situations right behind those? Are you frustrated? Do those emotions get the better of you? Or, is tackling that obstacle just a thing on your to-do list?
What if you had been Simon Peter in this situation? What would you have done?
And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
Luke 5:2-8
Simon Peter said that they had toiled – worked – all night, but they had gotten nothing. Then, here comes Jesus. He asked them to let down their nets again. At this point, most of us would have been quite frustrated.
Think about it. They had worked all night. Nights must have been the best time to fish because it says that the fishermen were washing their nets. They had come in, they had pushed out a bit, and Jesus had taught the people. Time is moving on. Simon Peter and the crew must have been exhausted from the work and from being up all night. They had to have been way past ready to go to bed, and washing the nets may have been something that they had yet to do.
Nevertheless, Simon did what Jesus asked, and they let down their nets. If you quit in the face of frustration, you will never have the opportunity to succeed. Simon did not say to Jesus, “What’s the point. Why bother?” He just obeyed, and the nets were full. We know that he was stunned by the result because “when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
Perhaps you are facing frustrations right now. If you are going to succeed, you must be willing to let down the nets. You must try again.
LIFE APPLICATION
It’s easy to get frustrated in the face of obstacles. It’s not always easy to continue. Will you let down the nets one more time? Understand that like Peter, you may have already put in all the hard work.
Just a thought. What are you looking for today? Do you want your nets full? Do you want them overflowing and breaking? Did you set your goals and expectations too low?
Will you see your dream through to the end? Will you quit before you succeed?