next thing.

"Jesus guides us in many different ways. Sometimes he makes the next step clear as day. Other times, like Peter discovered in JOHN 21:1-14, it feels like we’re left to muddle through, only to find that Jesus was leading through our muddling.

“I am going fishing.”

Peter didn’t know what else to do. The past few weeks had been indescribably intense with the nightmare of Jesus’ crucifixion and the ineffable wonder of his resurrection.

Now he was sitting with Thomas, Nathanael, James, John, and two others. They were just waiting. It was disorienting. Jesus wasn’t there and he hadn’t told them what to do next.

Peter used to know just what to do: prepare the nets and boat, go fishing, take what he caught and sell it in the market. Fishing was hard and sometimes dangerous work. But Peter knew what was expected of him. The memory of the familiar was comforting.

So as long as he didn’t know what else to do, he figured he might as well do something productive. The others replied, “We will go with you.” Peter wasn’t the only restless one.

All night they fished. Cast and pull. Nothing. Cast and pull. Nothing. Try the other side of the boat. Nothing. Move the boat. Nothing. A little deeper. Nothing. A little shallower. Nothing. Where are the fish? Nothing. Whose idea was this? There may have been a sharp word or two.

Just as day was breaking, they heard a voice from the shore. “Children, do you have any fish?” James’ exasperated response was, “No!” “Cast your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”

Ordinarily this would have been irritating. But these instructions were familiar. This had happened before. Peter and John glanced at one another and then tossed the net. The sudden weight almost pulled them overboard. It couldn’t be! It was! Fish! And they were huge! They couldn’t even get the net into the boat.

John’s eyes were as big as the fish when he looked at Peter and said, “It is the Lord!” Peter handed the net to Nathanael, threw on his outer garment and dove into the sea, leaving the others to drag the bulging net.

When they got to shore, they found Jesus preparing breakfast for them. He already had fish! Graciously, and perhaps with a tease of affection, he said, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” Then he served them breakfast.

And then Jesus gave Peter the next instructions.

Four Principles in This Story

This is vintage Jesus, always graciously leading and serving his bewildered disciples. And since we 21st century disciples are just as easily bewildered, it’s good for us to remember some helpful principles from this story.

First, waiting on Jesus is a common experience for disciples. Sometimes we wait for direction. Sometimes we’re stuck in a very hard place waiting for release. Sometimes we wait to understand his purposes. Sometimes we wait for his provision. Jesus’ timing and purposes are not always clear to us, though they are always best for us. So he wants our faith resting on the rock of his Word and not on the sand of circumstance.

Second, when we’re not sure what to do next, as Elizabeth Elliott says, “do the next thing.” I’m sure the disciples had prayed for guidance during those days but no clear instructions had come. Fishing just seemed like a good idea. As it turned out, it was exactly what the Lord wanted them to do. Jesus was leading them, just differently. As they did the next thing Jesus met them and directed them.

Third, Jesus is in complete control. Peter and his friends were experienced fishermen. They did their best, yet caught nothing. But that morning they discovered (again) that Jesus was sovereign over their decisions, the boat, the sea, the fish, and time.

Fourth, Jesus’ is always serving us, even when we can’t see it. He serves us in every conceivable way: from the payment of our sins, to our call, to the fish we catch, to a breakfast on the beach, to our eternal home. Jesus loves to work for those who wait for him (ISAIAH 64:4).

In following Jesus there are seasons of bewildering intensity and seasons of bewildering waiting. He does not want us to panic during either. He is in control of both. When you don’t understand his ways, trust his Word." - John Bloom


1. Waiting on Jesus is expected
2. When we're not sure what to do next, do the next thing.
3. Jesus is in complete control
4. Jesus is always serving us.  

Whatever your situation, whatever your uncertainty, the gospel applies.

Father I'm so, so, so, overwhelmed by the comfort I find in your word. It's full of truth and dripping with promise. Your promises were true then and they will prove true now. There are a lot of things around me that I would love to adjust , fix or just reschedule. I'm being tempted to look at things and say, Lord are you sure you know what you're doing?  But all I have to do is look in your word and I see that you are indeed completely in control and you are looking out for your kids. Father,   I don't have a roadmap for this week or a action plan for next week but I don't need to. That's a blessing.

Thank you for John Piper, thank you for his ministry and the hundreds of thousands of people his resources are reaching. Thank you for using him to so often point me back to you. I pray that you give him many, many more years to proclaim your glorious gospel.

 In your name, Amen.

A prayer for Hark! Market

Father this is just a silly little craft fair. It will just be a room full of crafty christmas decorations without you. Our goal from the start of planning this two day Christmas Extravaganza was to fling open the front doors of our church and welcome the community in. This is a time of year when people are softer to the church. I don't want them to come to Hark! and be smacked with religion, no ones handing out tracks or wearing turn or burn t-shirts. Father we want to be real with people, we want to welcome the community into the community of You. 

Father I want to pray big prayers for Hark! I pray that you will warm peoples hearts and that you will draw them to you. I pray you would spark something in them tonight or tomorrow that would lead them to you. Father help our volunteers as they come to selflessly serve their faces off the next two days. I pray that you would give them the words to say and the clear direction of how to care for these people. 

And lastly Father I pray for Gabrielle and myself.  Creating a last minute game plan last night we were filled with a peace about Hark! neither of us are stressed or overwhelmed, and that is only becauase of you. We took a couple minutes to pray before we called it a night last night and I was filled with faith about what you can do. Use us, use Crossway for the spreading of your glorious gospel for your glory. I pray for a continuous strength and energy for the Hark! team. Thank you for how you've poured out your grace on this event so far. I'm excited to see what you will do.