Your Miraculous Catch of Destiny Fish

In my last post, I wrote about the good struggles of a Daniel fast – good in terms of showing me how my dominant instinct (Self-Preservation) and Enneagram type (Seven) are challenged by lack of comfort and fear of deprivation.

As I wind down this fast, I am deeply grateful for this awareness and for how God has shown up in powerful ways. The other guy has shown up, too, and that’s also good – because it means I am moving the needle closer to a fuller expression of my destiny, which makes him want to stop me. But a gallbladder attack (after years without a problem) and sudden joint pain will not stop me. My destiny, and God’s glory through it, will not be stopped.

So, now we come to the topic of today’s post. Because we are in the period between Passover and Pentecost, I wanted to read about the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus that occurred during this time.

The first part of John 21 tells about the “miraculous catch of fish,” as it has come to be known. Peter and some fellow disciples spend the night fishing and catch nothing. A lot of work for zero reward. As they’re heading back to shore, a stranger on the beach tells them to throw their net on the opposite side of the boat, assuring the fishermen that they’ll catch something.

It still amazes me that the men complied. Casting a net is not as easy as it may sound. It was late. They were tired. The command also made no sense. In what universe do fish all hang out on one side of a boat? In a vast body of water like the Sea of Galilee, what difference could it make which side of the boat you threw you net over?

Some random guy they don’t even know makes a crazy suggestion to a group of professionals. And they do it.

And they catch so many fish that they can’t lift the net into the boat.

That’s when they figure out the guy on the shore is Jesus.

During this pre-Pentecost season, Jesus taught and equipped people whenever he showed up. He gave people strategies for how to go forward. He also commissioned them – in this story, it was Peter, and then there’s that whole Great Commission moment. So, as I read this passage, I realized that there’s a parallel here for us about our personal commissions and strategies.

We have an idea of how things should go. We have assumptions based on our experience and observation. If you want to accomplish x, you must do y and z. This works pretty well in the natural world, so we apply it to things like God’s will and our part in it.

For instance, I have spent years now learning about online marketing, blogging, social media, email campaigns and on and on. Because that’s what entrepreneurs do. They get equipped with the skills they need to succeed in their businesses.

But what if that doesn’t work? What if you try everything you’ve learned and don’t end up with the results you expected? What if you fish all night and catch nothing?

These moments are opportunities for Jesus to show up on the shore of your life and suggest something totally counter-intuitive and maybe downright nonsensical. A new strategy. One that doesn’t have to abide by our assumptions or obey the law of “how things are done.” Or even what we think is possible.

It’s easy to miss these moments. Each personality type will have its own struggle with believing or trusting the new strategy or recognizing the one who is giving it. That’s why it’s so important to know your own personality’s tricks. The Enneagram will help with that. So will these resources.

Jesus wants you to live your destiny, because it’s actually part of his destiny. You are, like Tevye from “Fiddler on the Roof” sang, part of God’s vast, eternal plan. He has a miraculous catch of destiny fish for you if you are willing to set aside your “expertise” and do the hard work of listening.

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