“In the middle of his fishing trip, Peter heard the familiar voice of Jesus calling out, “Do you have any fish?” But it’s not really a question, but more a comment, “Hey boys, how’s this fishing thing working out for you?” 

Jesus already knew they had fished all night, but hadn’t caught any fish. He knew that their willingness to live in fear and return to their old way of living was fruitless. That is why He came to call them once again to live alive in all that He had for them.

Returning to their old ways, trusting only in themselves, relying on what they thought they could handle was not getting them anywhere. What I love about Jesus is that He meets these guys when they are—an all-time low in their faith. 

They are full of fear and consumed on themselves. They were not even looking for Jesus, but Jesus was looking for them.

Jesus didn’t need anything from them, but He pursued them because He wanted something for them. He knew what would happen if they closed their life off to what God wanted to do through them. Even though Jesus knew everything they did, He still pursued them.

Peter’s story gives me hope because I am a lot like Peter. I get off track, start to struggle and lose my way. I get scared of what God will call me to do or what I will have to give up. 

I live trying to protect my plan, my stuff, my things because I am not sure God can be trusted. Fear starts to claim hold on my life.

The blatant lie that fear constantly shouts to you is that God’s love and provision can never be trusted. Someone with fewer responsibilities or “better health or more resources will be more adept at doing whatever God is tugging at your heart to do. 

You believe that God can’t do anything through you because He can’t really be trusted.

Fear distracts you, hurts you, and makes you believe there is not enough to give to God. Even worse, that you are not enough. With empty promises of security, satisfaction and fulfillment, you try to protect what is yours—to control the future your way.

At that moment, you hand the wheel over to fear and let it drive your life. Yet, this constantly brews dissatisfaction in your soul and creates even more stress. You never reach your fullness and capacity. You don’t enter the fullness of God’s plans for you and what God wants to do through you. 

Your own fears hold you back from living alive. Fear makes you run from the life God has for you like Peter ran.

Jesus knows my struggle and your struggle with fear. He sees our pride, greed, selfishness, and worry. Just like with Peter, He knows. But He hasn’t given up on you. He seeks to bring us back to living by faith, not fear.

Unless we can see with eyes of faith the life God desires for us, we will succumb to the power of fear that seeks to rob us of God’s provision for living alive. Jesus Christ wants us to give and be generous because He has a great plan for us. 

Jesus will always challenge us to refocus and reorient our lives back to following Him by faith. He wants to work through us so we live alive in all He has for us. Will you live by fear or faith?”

Excerpt From

40 Days 2019 • Live Alive

the Journey

John 21: 1-23