BACK TO NOTHING

• DAY 124
• Fear File: THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS
• Scripture: John 21:1-3 

After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.

John 21:1-3

I believe that the most difficult stage in life is not knowing what’s next. That phase where you look ahead and the future is blurry. It can feel empty or like a nightmare. Especially after a win, victory or great success. Returning to nothing can seem underwhelming. You probably have been here before. I know I have.

At the start of 2022 I was in my own place of nothingness. 2021 had taken so much from me. I had buried a sister, ended an engagement, resigned my position in a ministry I had worked in for 10 years, left my apartment, packed up all I had and moved to a new city. I had no job, no prospects, no money, no ministry. Nothing!!! So I thought, “why not go back to what I know to do?” I decided to take on other jobs, start a business or something. Since I was no longer in ministry at the moment, and had no possibility of being employed by another ministry as administrator, I might as well get my life in order. This didn’t quite go as planned, This text reminds me of that time in my life.

Nothing Here

The disciples felt like they were in a “nothing” phase too. They had just come out of being followers of miracle workers and miracle workers themselves. They were as important as POS people during the cash scarcity of February 2023 in the great nation of Nigeria. If you wanted to gain access to the most popular Rabbi alive then, you had to do it through them. But with the incidence of a Friday afternoon crucifixion, they became unemployed hiders. Jesus had died without leaving a manual of what they were to do when He left and when He resurrected and appeared He told them to wait for some power to come upon them. 

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but waiting isn’t fun, not even close. It feels like a whole lot of nothing. So out of fear, they decided to return to what they knew (fishing), inspired by the amazing Simon Peter. These men figured that what they left to follow Jesus was a good placeholder till they discovered what was next. They chose the familiar. But Just like me and every other person who returns to the familiar, they toiled all night, but they had NOTHING to show for it. 

Beloved, you are going to experience seasons where you cannot see the bright future you once dreamed. The future will look bleak in the face of the past you experienced and you will want to question if God sent you or if He is with you. That is your season to wait on God.  Wait means, staying in the word so you can remember what He said. It is fellowshipping with the Lord in prayer and worship.

Don’t be eager to take up your nets and return to that thing you were doing before. Because rumour has it that you will come up empty. Instead trust in the Lord and wait upon Him.

Shalom