How to go from frantic & flustered to flourishing

We’re two weeks into January. And let’s be frank: not everyone feels pumped, energetic and firing on all cylinders just because we clocked over into a New Year.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, overworked or overly tired, or you would love an a-ha! encouragement today, come visit Luke 5 with me for a few moments.

Luke 5:1-7 has a fascinating message.

But it can be easily missed because it’s sandwiched between the manual labour and the miracle moment–where Simon (later called Peter) and his crew had been toiling and fishing all night without a single catch. Then, half a day later, there’s a miracle moment when their boat is on the verge of sinking with an abundant haul of fish.

One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” 

“Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.

LUKE 5:1-7 NLT

LUKE 5 has a fascinating message, but it’s easily missed
because it’s sandwiched between the manual labour and the miracle moment.

Wonders over worry

Just imagine Simon that day.

He’s been listening to Jesus share all the secrets and wonders of Heaven.

And yet surely, in the pauses or reflections during the day, he would know and likely be thinking (especially if he was an overthinker!),

‘How will we eat if I have nothing to trade or show for?’
‘How will I make up for a whole night’s zero sum?’
‘What should I do?’

But here’s what I love about this beautiful story. Notice what Simon did and didn’t do!

Simon didn’t hustle again. He didn’t go back out on the waters to make up for the loss of the night before.

He spent the day with Jesus. 

Granted, perhaps it was not the time to be fishing during the day. And any experienced fisherman, as Simon was, would know the patterns of tides and ideal times to be out on the water. 

But even still, he wasn’t running around the place trying to ‘make ends meet’ in a panic.

Simon didn’t hustle again. He didn’t go back out on the waters
to make up for the loss of the night before.

Maybe you’ve been there yourself: in a desperate-out-of-your-control situation. Your mind is in overdrive and wants to find solutions.

Perhaps you, like me, have known what it’s like to be in a fluster and flutter mode to try and make something–anything!–happen… even if it may feel like doing the same thing that didn’t work the last time. And especially when it seems like nothing is working the way it should. 

And I know when I am striving to make something happen, I am not a calm, easy-going and delightful person. I am frantic, all over the place in a flurry, stressed and snappy.

The overwhelm and exhaustion just hits you when you’re in this zone.

The Simon Response

But did you see what Simon did?

Simon chose to spend the day feasting on the word of God, first and foremost.  

When Jesus gave Simon the instructions to go catch fish in the deep waters, Simon followed with obedience. And he replies,

If you say so, I'll let down the nets

LUKE 5:5 NLT

When Jesus says so, it’s exactly the time to go.
When Jesus gives, He gives with abundance and overflowing. (Luke 5:6)

And it’s without striving or sweating it out.

And it doesn’t tend to follow the natural patterns of the world (e.g. the pattern of the tides when fish would be in their active, hungry mode).

When Jesus says so, it’s exactly the time to go.
When Jesus gives, He gives with abundance and overflowing.

The A-ha! Lesson for ALL OF us

What can we take from all of this?

I think this is an important “sandwich” lesson for us still today, especially when we feel like we’re overworked and overwhelmed, trying our best to do what we need to in our day.

Feast on the Word of God first, then feast by the Word of God. 

So if you’re in that sandwich of overwhelmed or overworked, flick open to Luke 5 in your Bible today and start there.

Feast on His Word first before you get going with your day. Everything else will flow–and be much easier!–when we get the order right.

This Journal entry first appeared as an Insta-devotional.
Follow along on Instagram for more faith-lifting encouragement.  

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