Over the weekend my daughter called me. She had an obligation that she wasn’t really looking forward to meeting. Other things seemed more worthwhile. But in her less tired moments, she knew that the Lord had placed her in that original position and He had called her to that first task. And I was reminded of the following exchange between Jesus and Simon because Jesus the carpenter knew when the time was right for fishing far better than Simon the fisherman did –
When [Jesus] had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper and let down your nets, and you will catch many fish.” “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But because you say so, we’ll try again.” - Luke 5:4-5
I love Simon’s beautiful answer – “Because you say so.” In spite of what I think, without regard to my own experience and expertise, but simply because You say to do it. I also think there’s something subtle to be gleaned from what Jesus says: “Now go out.”
Simon and the others were experts in their craft and they hadn’t been lax in their efforts, but their hard work hadn’t produced any results. Sometimes we might be working hard in a field that doesn’t seem to be producing much fruit. We’ve prayed for that friend or loved one, and their burden isn’t any lighter. We’ve stayed in the job, the situation, the relationship and nothing’s really changed. And the temptation is to give up, throw in the towel, and turn our attention to something new.
When God says to do something, we can know with confidence that it will produce results. Our problem is that we’re impatient people who quickly tire of waiting for an outcome. But the Christian life is in its essence a life of faith – confident trust in an invisible God to make good on extravagant promises as yet unseen (Hebrews 11:1).
So until we’re given other instructions, our best course is to keep doing the work we’ve been given. Even when it might not seem to be the most fruitful, or worse, when it’s disappointing. The deep work of sanctification is happening when we wait for God to act on our behalf rather than seeking our own solutions to our discontent. This submission and obedience is the natural fruit of faith.
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. - Galatians 6:9
God’s timing isn’t just right, it’s perfect. Remain steadfast. You can be sure there will be a harvest when Jesus says, “Now.”