From Empty Nets to Overflowin’ Blessings

Well, I declare, the Lord done set this mornin’ out like a fresh‑poured cup of perked coffee, steam ‘a‑risin’ and mercy ‘a‑flowin’, invitin’ you to start your day with a grateful heart instead of an ol’ grumpy one. Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “The Lord’s love never quits and His mercies are new every single sunrise. Great is His faithfulness.” That means even if you wake up ‘a-feelin like a lil’ turtle flipped on its back or an ol’ rooster that done overslept or a surprised possum that done rolled off the wrong side of the log, God is still ‘a-standin’ right there with real fresh grace and all ready to start over again.

Now John 21 tells us about Peter and the other disciples ‘a-goin’ fishin’ after Jesus rose from the dead. They done fished all night long and done caught nothin’. Not a minnow. Not even a wiggle. Just empty nets ‘a-flappin’ in the breeze like laundry that done never dried. Bless their tired lil’ hearts, they were ‘a-tryin’ to do life in their own way again.

But this was not their first rodeo with failure. Back in Luke 5, Jesus done told Peter to go out there into the deep water after a whole night of catchin’ nothin’. Peter obeyed, and the nets got filled up so fast that the boat done nearly sank like a cow in a lil’ ol’ kiddie pool.

So, here they were again, same ol’ lake, same ol’ empty nets, same ol’ frustration. And then, in the dim light of early mornin’, they done seed a figure ‘a-standin’ on the shore. Jesus hollered real loud-like, “Ya’ll done caught anything?” He knew good and well they had not. Sometimes the Lord asks them there kinds of questions just to gets us to be admittin’ what is not ‘a-workin’.

And when they finally done listened and cast their nets on the right side, that there thing done filled up so big an’ so heavy that it was ‘a-writin its own fishy miracle story on the spot. Shore-‘nuff, Jesus was ‘a-showin’ them fellers that failure is real often the front porch to real good success. Sometimes you gotta done come to the end of your own rope ‘a-fore you go to grabbin’ ‘a-hold of His strong rope.

We all done git to that there point where we finally say, “Lord, what I’m ‘a-doin’ ain’t ‘a-workin’. I’m real tired of ‘a-tryin’ to be ‘a-doin’ it my way. I’m ‘a-wantin’ Your way.” And when you get to comin’ to Him like that there, He’ll be forgivin’, restorin’, and transformin’ you faster than a squirrel can skitter up an ol’ pecan tree.

Father, help me be ‘a-seein’ failure, not as the end, but as the real beginnin’ of what You done want to be ‘a-doin’ in me. Be ‘a-givin’ me wisdom, courage, and a heart that wants to be ‘a-listenin’ for when You be ‘a-speakin’ to me. Keep me real steady, focused, and full of hope as I give the reins of my life over to You. In Jesus holy name I pray. Amen.

Well, buttercup, I reckon we have done hauled in enough truth to fill a whole stringer of fish for today. Now you go on out there and remember when your nets are ‘a-comin’ up empty, Jesus is already ‘a-standin’ on the shore, and’ He’s done ready to fill ‘em up real full in ways that are gonna flat-out amaze you!

With joy,

Gwen