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Simon Peter said to them, "I'm going fishing." They told him, "We are also coming with you." They immediately went out, and entered into the boat. That night, they caught nothing. But when day had already come, Jesus stood on the beach, yet the disciples didn't know that it was Jesus. John 21:3–4 WEB.

Peter stood on the shore of the sea of Galilee and watched the waves roll in. He was so discouraged. He believed that Jesus was the Messiah, and soon-to-be King. But then Jesus had been arrested, scourged, crucified, and His lifeless body taken down from the cross and placed in a tomb. It was so final. Not long ago, Jesus had taught from Peter's fishing boat on this same beach.

What hurt Peter the worst was he had denied he even knew Jesus three times because he was afraid of being arrested. He had abandoned Jesus at the last moment. Peter didn't attend the crucifixion or the burial, and he didn't know about the resurrection. He believed Jesus was gone, and everything that God was doing in his life had fallen apart.

This was Peter's fork in the road. God had been with them at the beginning, that was clear, but where was He now? Peter gave up on the dream and said: "I am going fishing." In other words, he would return to his old way of life before he met Jesus.

That morning, Jesus appeared to Peter on the shore and sent him to do the work he had decided to leave. Though Peter believed things had taken an unexpected turn, everything was actually right on schedule. God knew what was going on, but Peter couldn't see it at the time.

Sometimes God calls us to do something, and then on the surface, it appears to fall apart. But in the bigger picture, everything is still right on schedule. Our tendency is to return to our past, to what we know, to what we are comfortable with. I have done this myself more than once.

Yet Jesus is always calling us forward, and never into our past. God has plans for you, and the new battle scars you picked up mean you are a veteran. If you do decide to stop and go fishing, you will probably not catch anything. Jesus will always be calling you into your future. It is we who return to the past.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please guide me this day. Help me to see the way clearly and direct my paths. Speak to me in a way that I understand and help me recognize it is You. I want more of You in my life today, Lord. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

Note: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.” (Philippians 4:6-7) ~ If you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network