Failure can be one of the hardest obstacles in our journey. Especially when you have consistently put your hard work and effort into achieving great things. I can remember finishing my senior year of high school without any offers to play in college. I had a good season, my team had a great season, and I still had not options. It’s moments like these that give us two options: quit or continue.
I love this story in Luke 5 about a guy named Simon. He was a fisherman who had been working all night and had no success in what he was doing. Simon was just about to call it a night when Jesus, a man he did not know, stepped into his boat:
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
I’m not one to believe that better situations in regards to resources and rewards automatically equate to blessings from God. There are warnings of treasures of earth versus treasures in heaven. However, I think there some valuable lessons we can discover from this small story.
DOUBT IS NATURAL
After a long, unsuccessful night in the water, Simon was ready to call it quits. For some reason, we never want to admit that we doubt something is possible. Doubt is a natural reaction, and it must be explored. We might need to take time to reflect on what we have done, where are have gotten, and where we would like to end up.
OBEDIENCE IS CRUCIAL
Simon expressed his doubt DIRECTLY to Jesus after Jesus had just given him instruction. However, Simon was obedient to the call of Jesus to cast his net one more time.
COMMUNITY IS NECESSARY
Once the abundance of fish was noticed, Simon called on his friends in a nearby boat to help collect. He was quick to share what had been provided. We need teammates and friends who we can not only lean on in tough times, but share our blessings with in abundant times.
When my senior year in high was complete, I decided not to quit. I called every junior college in the region and only heard responses from two! I was fortunate enough to play for SW Oregon CC. Two years later, my hard work paid off and was recruited by a number of schools who wanted me to transfer to their program.
Is failure your sign to be done? Or should you keep going? Never see failure as the end of the road, but use it as a checkpoint in your journey.
