“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.”- Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)
Commenting on the Biblical account of Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish, author Ruth Graham (Fear Not Tomorrow) observes that following Jesus’ appearance to Thomas, seven of the disciples go back to what they know best- fishing. She adds that we often engage in identical behavior when life throws us a curve:
“When life has been turned upside down, when we are confused and uncertain, we reach for what we know, what we find to be familiar and comfortable. Limbo is a very hard place to be.”
In a sense, Ruth is saying that the disciples, in going back to fishing, were leaning on their own understanding. When Jesus, who the disciples didn’t recognize, questioned them about not catching any fish, He was looking for them to acknowledge and face their situation.
So it is with us. Even when we let our circumstances and feelings blur our vision of Jesus, He still is calling and inviting us, confronting us with Himself, so we will be included in His plan for our lives.
