When Knowledge & Experience Don't Count

Have you ever found yourself working hard towards a goal or trying to catch a break only to come up empty handed? Happens to the best of us. Maybe you have been hoping for a promotion at work, or praying for a healing of a relationship. Whatever it maybe, we can all relate to the feeling of disappointment and frustration when our efforts seem to go unnoticed.

In Luke 5:5 we find Simon Peter and his companions in a similar situation. They had been fishing all night without any success. But when Jesus told them to let down their nets once more, despite their exhaustion and doubts they listened and caught so many fish that their nets began to break.

The key to this miraculous catch wasn’t the timing or the location. Rather it was in their willingness to trust in Jesus’ word, even when it was illogical, defied their knowledge and their experience and counterintuitive. Simon could have easily dismissed Jesus' advice citing his own experience and knowledge as a professional fisherman. Yet he humbled himself and chose to put his faith in the words of the master.

In our own lives, we will face situations when things don’t go according to our life plan, and we are left feeling helpless and discouraged. But let's remember the example set by Simon and his companions. Let's choose to trust in God's word even when it goes against everything, we think we know. It may require us to step out of comfort zones (as Simon did) and take a leap of faith (as Simon did) trusting that God will guide and provide for us every step of the way.

So let us not give up or lose hope when things go south. Remember, God does not send bad things our way – someone else does. But God guides, protects and provides for us when we are down and out. So let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and choose to trust in His word knowing that He will never leave us or forsake us.

Let's thank God for His word and His promises given in His word and pray for wisdom and humility to follow His word and His advice. 

With God our earthly knowledge, experience, perceptions, etc., don't count. What counts is our humility to accept His instructions, His mercy and His miracles. 

(Based on a KJV Devotional)