Never quit

Luke 5:4–6 — “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon replied, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.” When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets began to tear.

I’ve always been intrigued by this fishing story. Jesus chose several fishermen to be His disciples. Why fishermen? Perhaps because they understood something about failure. They knew what it was like to work all night and catch nothing, yet they also knew you don’t quit fishing because yesterday was unsuccessful. You go back out and try again.

Simon was a professional fisherman. He knew his trade. He knew the water, the weather, and the fish. He had worked hard all night and had nothing to show for it. Then Jesus told him to go back out and let down the nets.

Simon could have argued. He could have explained why it wouldn’t work. Instead, he simply said, “But if you say so.”

That is obedience.

Simon didn’t know what was going to happen. He simply trusted the One who told him to go.

And look what happened. His obedience led to a catch so great that the nets began to tear.

There is another part of this story that encourages me even more. Jesus didn’t quit working on Simon. He was preparing him for something far greater than catching fish. Aren’t you glad Jesus hasn’t quit working on you and me?

There will be days when you are tired. There will be times when you have worked hard and have little to show for it. You may even wonder if it is worth trying one more time.

When those moments come, remember Simon’s words: “But if you say so.”

Obedience doesn’t always guarantee immediate results, but quitting guarantees that we will never see what God intended to do through our obedience.

Think back today to a time when you wanted to quit but remained faithful. Remember what God did through that obedience.

Never quit. Never quit.

Quitting never honors God.