No Fishing

I enjoy fishing a lot for some reason. Can't really explain why, it must be because I'm a man. Then again, maybe that is why I love the fishing analogies in the bible when Jesus talks to Peter, or mentions anything about fish. You are probably wondering why did I put a no fishing picture on here if I love fishing so much. Well, let me explain...

For the past week or so I have felt like God has been silent in my life, and teaching me patience. Patience....silence...fishing. Yes those three go together like peas in a pod, just like the Trinity, see what I did there? Back to the topic. Silence is a great thing and sometimes I misinterpret that. And I wondered for a while why was I not hearing anything. Then I read this piece of literature...

"God withholds an answer to our prayers not only when they are unworthy but when He finds in us such greatness, such depth-depth and power of faith-that He can rely upon us to remain faithful even in the face of His silence. I remember a young woman with an incurable disease and after years of the awareness of God's presence, she suddenly sensed God's absence-some sort of real absence-and she wrote to me saying, 'Pray to God, please, that I should never yield to the temptation of building up an illusion of His presence, rather than accept His absence.' Her faith was great. She was able to stand this temptation and God gave her this experience of His silent absence. Remember these examples, think them over because one day you will surely have to face the same situation." 

After reading that I immediately had a feeling of joy and also a feeling of disturbance. How could a God who is so perfect trust me? A human who chooses sinful, selfish desires over Him. That is where grace and mercy intervene. Because of Jesus, we have received this gift and there is forgiveness equal to every desperate sin. Man alive. 

God is our source of hope. How is this true? Well I'll let Jesus explain that part: 

Matthew 13:44-46

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it." 

You are telling me Jesus, the man, sees me as a hidden treasure? A pearl? Like the kingdom of heaven? I am worth everything? The answer is yes, every time. How could I not think He is our source of Hope when Jesus joyfully gave His life away so that He could have us, His treasure, forever? I don't know why I turn away from him sometimes, but I am pretty sure that is why God puts a No Fishing sign in front of me. There are those times when I want to walk to the lake where God has tossed my sinful ways DEEP into the water and dive back into ways of the past thinking it will bring me hope. That is simply not the case. Clearly there is a reason God threw those things into the water so that I wouldn't go back and fish for em'. That reason is because He wants me to see Him as my ONLY Source of Hope. I think after writing this post, I am going to be like the older lady and give Him the chance to be silent in my life so that I may see how much I depend on Him as my source of Hope. I feel like I am getting a glimpse of what that woman felt, but thanks be to God for the opportunity to be a part of His silence. In the meantime, I'm going to go fish in a lake that is different, where the water is clear and full Him. And listen to His silence that says, "Hey Austin, no fishing here my friend."

Amen.