Because You Say So: Trusting God Beyond the Empty Nets
This week has felt especially heavy with tragic headlines. Graphic images of murder have been circulating on the internet, practically forced upon us.
First on a train, then at a university. Charlie Kirk, who boldly spoke about his conservative values, was assassinated for just that — speaking.
And there was yet another school shooting, one more added to the countless that have come before.
It feels like every week grows more violent. The weight of it becomes so heavy, and each event is another reminder of how broken our world truly is.
And today, on September 11, we pause to remember another tragedy that shaped our nation.
To be honest, I do not always speak up about every heartbreaking story or headline. Not because I do not care, but because I would rather carry these burdens to God in prayer than add more noise to an already loud world. (This is what I used to do.)
My hope is not tied to politics, sides, or quick solutions.
My hope is anchored in Jesus, the One who mourns with us, who is never surprised, and who promises a hope beyond this brokenness.
I had already prepared what I would be posting today before the weight of this week’s sadness, but I believe it is still fitting.
Even when it feels and looks hopeless in the natural, we serve a God who tells us to cast out our nets again, to step out in faith even when we feel like we have done all we can.
At the end of the day, our part is obedience, but the results rest in His hands.
We have all had those seasons where we pour in effort but see little return. Maybe it is in your job, your family, your ministry, or even your walk with God.
You have stayed up late, risen early, done all the “right” things, but your nets still feel empty.
Or maybe you have been following Jesus, trying your best to look to Him in moments of despair, but all you see is an empty net.
Peter knew this feeling well.
In Luke 5:1–11, we find Peter and the other fishermen finishing a long night of work. They had labored hard, casting nets again and again, but caught nothing.
Exhausted and ready to pack up, Peter is approached by Jesus, who asks him to cast the nets one more time, but this time at His word.
Peter could have refused. He had already tried. He knew how fishing worked. But in faith he answered, “Because You say so, I will let down the nets” (v. 5).
And in that moment, the nets overflowed. The catch was so great that the boats began to sink.
Faithfulness Does Not Mean Passivity
Peter and the others had toiled all night. Their effort was not wasted, even though it had not yet produced results.
The Lord often calls us to be faithful in the “casting of nets” even when the waters seem empty.
Faithfulness does not mean passivity. It means showing up, doing what is in front of us, and refusing to give up.
It means casting our nets when the Lord says so, even when it makes no sense.
As Paul reminds us in Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
But It Is God Who Provides the Harvest
The miraculous catch in Luke 5 was not the result of better technique or more effort.
It happened because Jesus stepped in. His presence, His word, His blessing turned failure into abundance.
This is where faith meets grace.
We bring our obedience, and God brings the increase.
As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6).
Dependence Over Striving
The call is not to exhaust ourselves trying to make the nets fill on our own.
The call is to depend entirely on the One who commands the seas. Our part is diligence and obedience, and His part is the blessing and provision.
And notice, when the nets overflowed, Peter fell to his knees and confessed his unworthiness (Luke 5:8).
The miracle not only fed their bodies, but it also revealed the power and grace of Jesus.
What This Means for Us Today
If you feel weary, keep casting your nets in obedience.
If you feel unseen, remember that God’s timing is not ours.
If you feel fruitless, trust that the Lord is the one who fills the nets, not your striving, but His grace.
Like Peter, may we learn to say, “Because You say so, I will let down the nets.”
A Prayer for the Weary and Heavy-Hearted
Lord, we need You.
Our nation and our world need You.
Pour out Your Spirit on us, a broken and sinful people in desperate need of Your grace.
Remind us that we will not be shaken and comfort us with the truth that You have the final say.
Keep us from adding to the evil in this world and help us love those You have placed in our path.
Give us the courage to proclaim Your Word with boldness and without fear.
And when our nets feel empty, remind us that You are in the boat with us, that You alone provide the breakthrough, and that in You we are never without hope.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
May you find strength today to keep casting your nets, trusting that the harvest belongs to Him.
