Sometimes when we feel as though we have tried everything and given all that we have, we can lose hope in the promise of the Lord. This is what I imagine Simon Peter felt in the Gospel for today. He had been fishing all night long and had not caught anything. I’m sure that aside from being frustrated that he was not catching anything, he might have started to entertain and believe some false lies about himself. Maybe he started to think “Clearly I’m not good enough for this, I’ve tried everything,” or “What is wrong with me? Why won’t this work?” Does this sound familiar?

Oftentimes, when we are frustrated and a little hopeless, we become more susceptible to believing these false lies about ourselves and thinking that the Lord will not come through for us. Today’s Gospel reminds us that it is precisely in these moments that we not despair and become hopeless, but rather draw our strength from the Lord and keep persevering. It is in this persevering that we trust the Lord as Provider, recognizing that He will give us all that we need. It is in this persevering that we ask the Lord to show us who we really are and protect us from believing anything about ourselves that is not true.

Today, let us resolve to keep casting our nets, trusting that the Lord will provide the catch!

What makes it hard for me to persevere in the face of hardship?

Oh, Good Jesus, help me to trust in Your providence. Amen.