Hope at Dawn

Work.

This early morning, my thoughts lead me to reflect on those times when our work, our efforts, no matter how well intentioned or focused, dedicated or talent filled, only result in nothing. You know? When you’ve been steadily hard at work but just spinning your wheels? After hours upon hours, months and months of diligent effort? Doing all you know how to do in your current situation and yet nothing comes of it? What then?

Turns out, my reading this morning led me to John 21. It’s crazy how in sync this passage is with what’s on my mind today. Take a look…

“Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will also come with you.’ They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.

“But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. So Jesus said to them, ‘Children, you do not have any fish, do you?’ They answered Him, ‘No.’ And He said to them, ‘Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.’ So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. Therefore, that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord’…

“So when they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.’ Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast…'” –John 21:3-12

As dawn approaches and your efforts continually frustrated or accomplishing little, how do you need the Lord to come and meet you?

If we abide in Jesus, He will accomplish the work needed through us. He will guide our efforts, give us wisdom in our direction, and make the burden light. But we have to trust Him and obey His ways of doing things.

Let’s put down our ways of doing, striving, and working. Let’s stop hoping in our own efforts, work ethic, expertise, and common sense. Let’s come to Jesus, and let Him do the work in us to produce the beautiful, nourishing fruit that lasts and feeds a multitude.