Kristi's Advice

“let down your nets”

One of my favorite stories about faith is in the 5^th chapter of Luke. It is told when Peter is standing by a lake with others washing and mending his nets after a long night of fishing. A group of people were gathering to hear the Savior teach and as he approached the fishermen he asked if he could take the boat out a little from the land.

We don’t have much of an indication about what was preached or for how long but it must have been significant because, you see, Jesus was a carpenter and Peter a fisherman. And at the conclusion Jesus asked Peter to take the boat out into deeper water and “let down your nets for a draught”.

And Peter did not hesitate. He simply answered “Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net”. Peter the fisherman at the word of the carpenter, acting in faith, let down his net. We all know what happened after that. (if you don’t know go read it J)

Peter received a witness there in his boat, and it was tested. He was told to act on it, in a seemingly illogical way. He was asked to do something that didn’t seem on its face to mean anything.

But it might have meant everything.

Like the tests we face. The things that don’t seem to mean anything, that seem to stretch our faith or push it across its limits.

The stranger told him to let down his net, and for no good reason – except faith– he did. At times the Lord will ask us to do things, for no good reason except faith.

Jesus didn’t ask Peter if he believed. He didn’t ask him what he thought of what he had just taught. He didn’t ask if he had felt anything unusual while he spoke. He gave him a mundane little instruction.

He asked Peter to go against his own judgment. He asked him to let down his net.

The subject was faith but the test was “show me,” not “tell me.” And certainly not “sit and wait for something to happen”.

And Peter passed. I hope you and I do as well. I hope we can see the subtlety of the trials of our faith, and have the strength and commitment to pass them.

So I guess the lesson I have learned that I want my children to learn is to let down your nets. When you think it doesn’t make sense, when there is no good reason to do it, when you think you have tried everything you can think of and exhausted every possibility…let down your nets…have faith in the Lord. Trust in his word and in his power to lead and guide. You must, you simply must believe there is someone that knows more about what you need than you do.