I once ministered with a couple who by all appearances struggled deeply with their finances. Their home life was one that no person should have to experience. My heart ached for them because I knew by all accounts the Lord had something far more greater in store for them, if they would trust him to guide them.

It happened on one afternoon I was in their home and as the husband sat outside on their porch I felt led to go and share with him.

As we talked about casual things he begin to share with me about some of their personal struggles. My heart was truly touched by his deep desire to want more for his family. While listening to him, I asked the Lord to give me the words to speak to him that would minister and the Lord brought “cast their nets” to the other side.

I asked my friend if he had ever heard the story of when Jesus told Simon to cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find, and because they did it was a struggle for them to draw the nets up for the multitude of fishes they caught.

They had no luck where they were, and I’m not sure if they just didn’t think about casting their nets elsewhere or if by habit it was simply what they had always done, but they needed to do something different.

I explained to him in order for change to take place in our lives we have to trust Jesus enough that we are willing to step out of our comfort, step away from the familiar things in our life and try our hands at something different. We have to be willing to change what we have always done.

Now I won’t assume he took what I said to heart because I’m not even sure he truly knew the Lord, but my prayer for him was, for the seeds I planted the Lord would grow them in him.

If you’re not familiar with the story you can read it in John 21:1-8.

My thought to ponder this week: have you tried casting what you’re doing to the other side?