“Simon Peter said . . ‘I am going fishing.'” John 21:3 NKJV
“The times you feel the most like quitting are rarely, if ever, the right time to do so.”
My thoughts today are about times “when you feel like quitting.”
There are some mornings you just don’t feel like continuing the routine. Don’t be shocked when those mornings come. Your feelings are real, so you have to deal with them; they are rarely right, so you don’t have to believe them! You are neither the first nor the last to have such feelings. The rest of your story is all about how you deal with feelings. That’s the important part.
It had been a rough few days for the disciples. The tumultuous events of this Passover were well beyond anything they ever anticipated. Jesus had warned them, but they would not allow themselves to imagine what He was talking about. Not long before, Peter had even rebuked Jesus about speaking of His death. (See Matthew 16:21-23). Jesus was arrested, unjustly tried, and cruelly crucified and buried. It was over, or was it? Disturbing stories began to occur about an empty tomb, and seeing Jesus. The emotional roller coaster was just too much. Think he felt like quitting?
You and I are left to guess as to what Peter’s emotions were. Feelings may well have been bouncing all over the place like yours and mine are wont to do – when life is confusing, circumstances keep wildly changing, and you are not sure what is or is not happening. So Peter decided to leave where he had been and go back to where he used to be. When the present moment is painful, exhausting, overwhelming, or confusing – the former and familiar often seems a refuge. You know, the ‘good old days’ syndrome. Fishing worked for Peter before, maybe it would again.
That decision can work against you, or it can work for you. It probably depends on why you are “going fishing.” If you are fleeing to find some idyllic escape from current difficulties, it probably will not work. As someone said, “Wherever I go, there I am!” You will still have to deal with things and people – and yourself! – that can make you feel like quitting. Life can be challenging wherever you are. In that sense it is true, that you can’t go back. You cannot successfully turn the clock back to a preferred time. That seldom works for anyone. If he was going back to what worked before he met Jesus, It didn’t work for him. He and the others “fished all night and caught nothing!” John 21:2-5.
On the other hand, if he were going back to where he first met Jesus, it was a wonderful success! Consider that maybe somewhere in the strange mix of emotions and thoughts all mingled together in his heart and mind, Peter was simply returning to the place where he first met Jesus – not trying to recapture a feeling or restore a mood – but to recover his orientation, to again find his Savior. (Matthew 4:18-20) Jesus was waiting for Him on the shore, instructing him where to cast his net for abundant success, and fish and bread for comfort, and renewal of calling and reassurance of purpose ahead. (See John 21:6-17).
Almost ten years ago I felt like quitting. Then, I was calling it “retiring,” but it was really quitting. Instead, a chance conversation brought me back to my sense of God’s call and assignment here. I went back to where I met Jesus afresh – His tender voice spoke of renewed call, clear vision, and restored passion. These last years became the best, with opportunities I thought no longer possible for me. When you feel like quitting is rarely, if ever, the time to do so. See Galatians 6:9 NLT.
My prayer for you is: go fishing; just go where you know you will meet Jesus again.