Change is hard—especially when it’s not my idea.
Especially when it leads to the unknown.
Especially when it means letting go.
“Immediately they left their nets and followed him.”
With an almost reckless faith, four fishermen walked away from their livelihood because Jesus bid them come. They let go of everything they had known to walk into the unknown with Him.
Immediately.
In that decisive moment, they lost a lot… but they gained Jesus.
A true disciple must be willing to give up something good in order to pursue something better.
For many of us, this has been a season of nothing but change. Many of the things we held dear—many of the things we took for granted—gone, without a trace. So many new, unwanted adventures are now here; many more are on the horizon. If we’re not careful, we’ll find ourselves, years from now, still standing here, clinging to old, tattered nets.
Those nets provided so many good things: sacred moments and sweet memories. They held marriage and ministry. They scooped up babies and blessings galore! They wrapped us in security and safety.
My whole world was tied to that “fishing boat.”
But I know the Master is bidding me to come.
With outstretched hand He asks, “Do you trust me? Then follow me.”
Oh, how I do not wish to get out of my boat! How stubbornly I have fought dropping my nets! How hard it is for this girl to let go! But Jesus calls, and I know I must go. It’s time to release my grip on what once was so I can take the holy, nail-scarred hand that leads me into what will be.
Perhaps you’re in the boat with me. You know He’s calling you into deeper waters…deeper trust…deeper commitment. You hear Him bidding you to let go of your nets, to step out, to take His hand.
But will you?
It could take an almost reckless faith to propel that first step out of the boat; to let go of everything you’ve ever known to walk into the unknown with Him. It is a decisive moment that we all must face.
It’s true, you’ve lost a great deal.
But in offering all that you are and all that you’ve been to the Master, you gain what can never be lost….
You gain Him.