By Tim Woods | April 21, 2024
As one travels through this journey called life, he or she will face a whirlwind of emotions. These emotions that are felt can be brought on by various situations. Whether it’s a personal struggle, a difficult relationship, or a setback in your career or ministry, these different emotions can be overwhelming.
I look back at a time when I separated from a twenty-plus-year career. I was angry and bitter and thought, “Now what?” I experienced a sense of defeat and hopelessness that discouragement can cause. All the pressures of life and work were heavy. The frustration was beyond control. The anxiety was strong enough to interfere with daily activities. Billy Graham once said: “At its best, anxiety distracts us from our relationship with God and the truth that He is ‘Lord of heaven and earth.’ At its worst, anxiety is a crippling disease, taking over our minds and plunging our thoughts into darkness.”
To be completely honest, we all have faced these different emotions. Some are to more extremes than others. However, life is full of setbacks and obstacles that will cause these emotions to flare up in our lives. It’s how we handle these emotions that is key. As Christians, we tend to try and do things on our own instead of relying on Jesus. During this time, we must realize that our way will never work. Ignoring these emotions will eventually stop you dead in your tracks.
The first step to overcoming these emotions is to give your life to Jesus Christ. Once you’ve taken this step, the next is to practice fixing your thoughts on Christ and His promises. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9 (NKJV)
You’re Not Alone
Originally named Simon, Peter was a fisherman and the first leader of the early Church. He faced all these emotions in one night. We can learn something from how Peter responded to this difficult situation.
3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.
4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing.” Luke 5:3-5a (NKJV)
Time and time again, Peter threw out the nets only to find them empty. Yes, he was discouraged. We see that he was also fatigued. He had toiled all night fishing for nothing! You know that he was also frustrated. This, I believe, was twofold. First, his emotions surfaced because he didn’t catch anything. Second, his emotions surfaced because Jesus asked him to go back out and lower his nets again. He was a fisherman, and He’s going to tell me to try again! The anxiety and worry had to overcome him when those nets were empty. That was his livelihood. I’m sure he had the thoughts of, “Now what!” As we continue this journey, we too, time and time again, face these raw emotions.
Humble Submission
However, in the last part of verse 5, we see how Peter faced these emotions, “nevertheless at Your word, I will let down the net.” This is a life lesson for us. We must remember to rely on His Word and His promises, not on our feelings. And as we rest and trust in Jesus, only He will give us the strength to continue. We must let go and let God take control and follow only His will, not ours.
Back to Peter, 6 “And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” Luke 5:6-8 (NKJV)
As Peter faced all these emotions, he fell to the knees of Jesus. As Peter acted on faith, he recognized who Christ was.
When life struggles bring you down. When the trials and tribulations are too much to bear. When you become so overwhelmed by the situation, give it all to God. This is only accomplished when you present yourself before Jesus in humble submission. Fall to the knees of Jesus and recognize who Christ is.
About the Author
Tim Woods lives in West Frankfort, Illinois. He works in youth ministry at First Christian Church in West Frankfort, IL and is furthering his studies at Veritas Theological Seminary.
