Don't Go Back to Fishing: Moving Forward After Easter
The week after Easter can feel like a spiritual crossroads. The celebration of Christ's resurrection is fresh in our minds, but the question "what now?" begins to settle in. This is exactly where we find the disciples in John 21 - caught between what Jesus had done and what they were supposed to do next.
What Do We Do When We Don't Know What's Next?
In John 21:1-14, we encounter the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias (also known as the Sea of Galilee) after Jesus' resurrection. This wasn't just any location - it was the very place where Jesus first called them to follow Him. Now, faced with uncertainty about their future, they found themselves returning to what was familiar.
"After this, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias... Simon Peter said to them, 'I'm going fishing.' They said to him, 'We will go with you.'" - John 21:1-3
Peter's declaration wasn't about picking up a hobby. This was a loaded moment - he was stepping back into his old life before Jesus called him. When we don't know how to move forward, something in us pulls toward what's comfortable and familiar.
Why Do We Go Back When We Feel Lost?
Peter had a reputation for being quick to act but unstable when things got difficult. He walked on water until he looked away from Jesus. He declared loyalty but denied Christ three times. Now, faced with uncertainty about what came next in his calling, Peter chose to move in the wrong direction rather than sit in uncertainty.
The dangerous part? Direction is contagious. When Peter said "I'm going fishing," the other disciples immediately responded, "We will go with you." They weren't rejecting Jesus - they were drifting because they shared something in common: they didn't know what was next.
Just because something feels familiar doesn't mean it's where you're supposed to be. There are things God has already called you out of, and going back to them won't give you the clarity you're looking for.
What Happens When We Try to Live Without Jesus' Direction?
The disciples spent an entire night fishing and caught nothing. These were skilled fishermen who knew these waters, yet they came up completely empty. Not one fish after hours of trying.
"They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing." - John 21:3
When you step back into a life that Jesus has already called you out of, it won't work the same anymore. What used to produce stops producing. What used to satisfy doesn't satisfy anymore. You might return to old habits, relationships, or patterns, but they won't bring the same fulfillment they once did.
Some people aren't stuck because they're not trying - they're stuck because they're trying without Him. They're working harder than ever but repeating the same cycles and getting the same empty results.
How Does Jesus Respond When We Drift?
As day broke, Jesus appeared on the shore, though the disciples didn't recognize Him initially. He asked a simple question: "Children, do you have any fish?" He already knew the answer - He'd been watching them struggle all night.
"He said to them, 'Cast the net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.' So they cast it and now they were not able to haul it in because of the quantity of fish." - John 21:6
The contrast is striking: all night on their own produced nothing, but the moment they followed His direction, their nets overflowed. They hadn't changed boats, techniques, or equipment - only whose guidance they followed.
Where Does Jesus Meet Us?
Jesus didn't wait for the disciples to figure everything out or prove themselves. He met them right where they were - on the shoreline, within sight of where they had gone back to their old life. When they reached shore, they found Jesus had already prepared a charcoal fire with fish and bread.
"Jesus said to them, 'Come and have breakfast.'" - John 21:12
Jesus included them but didn't depend on them. He already had provision ready. Instead of lecturing them about going back to fishing, He invited them to eat. He meets His people relationally before addressing anything else.
This reveals something crucial about God's character: He moves toward us before we're able to fix anything. Romans 5:8 reminds us that "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
What Can We Learn from Chuck Colson's Story?
Chuck Colson went from being Nixon's "hatchet man" to a prison cell during the Watergate scandal. In that cell, reading "Mere Christianity," he encountered Jesus. When released, he didn't try to rebuild his political career. Instead, he started Prison Fellowship, reaching hundreds of thousands of inmates worldwide.
If Colson had gone back to his old life, those countless lives might never have been touched. Sometimes God allows us to go through difficult seasons not to punish us, but to position us for a greater purpose.
Life Application
The same Jesus who called Peter forward is calling you forward today. You have a choice: will you go back to "fishing" - returning to what Jesus has already called you out of - or will you continue following the path He has for your life?
This week, resist the urge to drift back into old patterns when you feel uncertain about what's next. Learn the skill of stillness - being content in moments that might not be moving at the pace you want. Remember that provision follows God's presence, not the other way around.
Questions for reflection:
Where in your life have you stopped moving forward with God and started drifting back to old habits?
What areas of your life are you trying to manage without Jesus' direction?
How can you practice stillness and trust while waiting for God's next step in your life?
What would it look like to fully surrender the familiar and comfortable to follow Jesus into the unknown?
Don't let uncertainty drive you back to what God has already delivered you from. He has something better ahead, and He'll meet you exactly where you are to guide you forward.