Peter was a successful fisherman with years of experience. But one fateful day, he had nothing to show for it. All through the night, his nets floated on the calm sea without a catch. After hours of fruitless labour, Peter returned to the shore with baskets empty.
Like Peter, many of us at some moments had our harvest baskets empty. You work hard but have no reward. You obtained higher certificates and won several academic prizes, yet you end up jobless. You maintained a decent lifestyle and kept yourself unstained by worldly concupiscence, yet you end up struggling in your relationship. Talented as you are, you bear the brunt of earthly troubles that have left you in tatters.
Many stars are buried. I have seen brilliant students in school, who were the shining stars of their class, but their glory swallowed like Jonah. Behind the dark clouds are stars that couldn’t shine. So many fall behind this line.
One of my friends built a flourishing business and schooled himself in prudence, but his cashflow fell short of expectations. I have seen several people that preserved their purity till marriage, but now engage in marathon prayers for the fruits of love. Why do bad things happen to good people?
While the prodigals are luxuriating, the obedient end up eating husks with pigs. The Holy Book says by the sweat of his brow, man shall earn his bread. But many diligent hands are going hungry in our clime. The new yahoo business has created moneybags who smile to banks with proceeds of fraud. On the contrary, those that sow in tears now drink tears by the bowlful. Others sow nothing but reap abundance in a society where robbing Peter to Paul has become a new norm. After all, when money speaks, men bow in adulation.
What shall the just man do? In the search for solution, many rest their heads on the promises of the Scripture. Knock and the door shall open. Seek and you shall find. Speak a word and it shall come to pass. Some have obeyed these words to the letter, and more.
They might wonder why their faith can’t move any mountain. Let us reason together. Join me in this voyage of discovery.
Few days ago, I spoke with a man who has been bedridden for years. His condition worsened in the past two years, that he was unable to walk downstairs. Incapacitated and quarantined against his will, all hopes seem lost. He called his condition ‘extreme Calvary experience’ and I agreed with him. “Lord, that I may work again”! That has been his prayer point for the past two years.
For those that can walk, rejoice. And if you are fit to run, may praise never depart from your lips. What you considered very cheap is another man’s luxury.
The point of this reflection is that every mortal bears the badge of suffering. In one way or the other, your body bears the scars of affliction. Yet, the creator of mankind has asked us to rejoice in every situation. For every crown awaiting us, there is a cross to bear. Whatever cross that comes your way, accept it with ‘uncomplaining meekness’.
These two catch phrases logged into the mind many years ago. At that time, I was deeply worried and held the hands of God in prayers. I asked God, “why did you refuse to bless me materially and deny my heart desires?” The reply came later. In a clear message, I was warned to “tame my desires and instead ask for the grace of uncomplaining meekness”. It was clear that what I so much desired at that time was not God’s plan for me. Earthly beauty returns to ashes but the glory of God never fades. Seek the glory that never fades.
God has good plans for you. Peter’s story didn’t end with fruitless toil. The Bible records that while he was washing his nets to go home, Jesus came. The Lord always comes at the nick of time. When all seems lost, and hope dashed, Christ comes. At the climax of our crisis, there is a Saviour on his way. I want to assure you that at the tipping point of frustration, at that moment you are washing your nets to go home, providence will stretch out a helping hand.
It is possible that other fishermen might have enjoyed bounteous harvest and looked pitifully at Peter’s misery. Yet few minutes later, the story changed. God can make a poor man instantly rich. Time, in the eyes of God, counts less. One minute call orchestrated by providence can turn our failure to success.
Peter beckoned on other fishermen to help him harvest the abundance of divine supply. His net was at breaking point. One day, your net will be at breaking point. Those that looked down on you would be the first to feast on your blessings. The wheels of life cannot be predicted. Let he that is boasting, boast in the Lord.
Before we say Peter was lucky, let’s look at his character. Tired and fagged out after all night fruitless toil, he cheerfully offered his boat to an unknown stranger. Charity done at the most difficult period gains more merit. He that has two coats, give to the man that has none. Giving out of our poverty is heavenly gain.
Peter was charitable even to a stranger. He demonstrated temperance, not allowing the bitterness of unrewarded toil to spill over. He showed long suffering, and rowed the boat further when asked to do so. Many of us would have hurried home at dawn to lament our fate or blame the enemies for our woes. But Peter chose to tarry at his workplace a little longer. Staying back despite compelling reasons to quit is a virtue that yielded success.
For a man that had a sleepless night, Peter was stretched to a limit. Yet, he went an extra mile by staying longer to allow Jesus use his boat to address the crowd. He had the virtue of uncomplaining meekness. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.
“Put out your boat in the deep for a catch”, Jesus told Peter. And Peter obeyed. Obedience is a magnet of blessings. By obeying the words of Jesus, even when it was obvious he lacked experience of fishing, Peter demonstrated an exemplary act of humility. It would have been easy to laugh Jesus off, for asking him to cast the nets at a time the fishes were deep down the waters. Peter could even have pleaded tiredness after many hours of sleeplessness. He agreed to cast his nets one more time.
From the same place of misery came an abundant harvest.
I bring you good news. You will rise from zero point. That same place you once suffered humiliation and defeat, shall become a place of blessings for you. I want to assure you that your harvest season is here. In the chaos of distress, I bring you whispers of hope.
Nigeria has happened to many of us. Many have crashed to zero point financially? Many families are on the brink with zero hope of the next meal. As schools prepare to resume in September, the load of worries has increased. Perhaps your landlord has made life miserable following your default in rent. Have you lost a loved one, in spite of your prayers and faith in divine healing? You are not alone.
When you get to zero point, remember we serve a God that buried a silver coin in the belly of a fish. He will not forsake you. In your scarcity, he is a trusted provider. He will show you wealth hidden in secret places. Keep believing, keep working. The longer the delay, the bigger the harvest. In the eyes of God, you are more than a dot in the circle. Certainly, you will rise from zero point.