2 minute read.
Daily Reading: 2 Samuel 19:11-20:13 ESV, John 21:1-25 ESV, Psalm 120:1-7 ESV, Proverbs 16:16-17 ESV
Daily Verse: “He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.” (John 21:6 ESV)
BALLO (906): “To throw (in various applications, more or less violent or intense). This word means with force and effort to throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls: to scatter, to throw, cast into, to give over to one’s care uncertain about the result.”[i]
Let go.
When Jesus instructed the disciples to cast their nets, they had to let go of their disbelief. After spending a night catching nothing, they had lost hope. Despite their doubts, Jesus’ instruction required them to try one more time. Christ didn’t disappoint, performing a miracle the fishermen would not soon forget.
How many times have you felt like giving up? For me, especially during my season of singleness, throwing in the towel seemed inevitable. The weekend one of my closest friends married, my blind date tanked, and an online possibility stopped communication caused me to doubt. My depression overwhelmed me.
Cast your cares.
“Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 ESV)
Before you throw in the towel, cast your cares on Jesus. Pour your miseries out to Him. Speak audibly, and let the words flow from your mouth. Or write down your anxieties and worries. Bring them into the light by giving your fears to God.
Pouring my heartache out to God gave me hope. Clinging to the promises in His word gave me direction. Aligning my desires with God’s desires brought healing to my heart in ways I didn’t expect, discovering the truth of scripture:
“Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4 ESV)
God cares about your hurts and hang-ups. Jesus knows the difficulty of life on earth because He lived it. Christ wants you to cast your cares on Him. When you do, you will discover that your nets overflow with blessings as God fills you with hope, overcoming the trials of this world with His promises.
[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 50) Thomas Nelson
