Finding God’s Best on the Other Side of Obedience

In Luke 5:5 it says, “‘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.’” (NLT)

We all suffer setbacks at work from time to time. But sometimes the simplest step from setback to comeback is just two words: Obey God.

Imagine this scenario: God has told me to do something that seems illogical and foolish. It makes no sense financially, relationally, or emotionally. Worse yet, it scares me to death.

But God says to do it anyway. The next move is mine: Obey God or go my own way.

In Luke 5, Simon Peter had been fishing all night and caught nothing. For first-century fishermen, it would have been an awful setback.

But Jesus came by and used Simon Peter’s boat to preach. Then Jesus told him: “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish” (Luke 5:4 NLT).

Jesus told Simon Peter what to do—and then Simon Peter had to make the choice to obey.

Jesus’ instruction was completely illogical. On the surface it made no sense. After all, they had fished all night and caught nothing! So why did Jesus tell Simon Peter to go out again—and into the deeper water? It’s in the deep water where you find the most fish. But it’s also where you find the biggest risk. And there’s no faith without risk.

So did Simon Peter decide to obey? “‘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’” (Luke 5:5 NLT).

Simon Peter did what Jesus told him to do. He didn’t do it because it was a smart or popular idea. He did it because God said to do it. He didn’t argue or hesitate.

And, through his obedience, God gave Simon Peter and his companions a bigger business success than they could have dreamed. The Bible says God gave them so many fish that their nets tore and they had to enlist the help of other fishermen.

But none of that happened until Simon Peter obeyed Jesus—even when it was illogical to obey him.

So what has God told me to do that I’m not doing? Does it seem impossible? Does it make little sense financially? Is he telling me to go into the deep water? It doesn’t matter how foolish it seems. God wants me to take a risk and obey him.

The choice is mine: I can either stay in the shallow end where it’s safe or go into the deep water where the fish are. Once I obey, God will take care of the rest. My best days are on the other side of my obedience.

So will I obey? 

In summary, when I follow him and what he asks, I will find success. Obedience is key. Jesus will call me to go out further in faith and not where it is safe. Without my faith there is no risk. Nothing will happen until I obey. The choice is mine. Be safe or step out in faith. God promises that if I obey, he will do the rest. 

Blessing Comes From Doing

In John 13:17 It says, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (NIV)

The uncontrollable winds of life—relational winds, financial winds, and spiritual winds—can overwhelm us and throw us off course. But God’s Word is filled with principles to help us withstand even the toughest winds.

Putting into practice everything you learn is an antidote for uncontrollable winds. God doesn’t just want us just to hear his Word. He wants you and I to do it—to obey it, to practice it.

The Bible says, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock” (Matthew 7:24-25 NIV).

Notice the three things that happen in a storm. The rain comes down, attacking the roof of life. The streams rise, flooding the foundation of life. And the winds blow, beating against the walls of life. We’re getting it from the top, the bottom, and the side. And we have no control over any of it.

So what should we do with the uncontrollable things of life—that diagnosis you can’t control, a child you can’t control, or financial hardship you can’t control? You put into practice everything you have learned in Scripture. And when you do, you won’t fall down because the foundation of your house is built on the rock.

What’s the rock? The rock is the Word of God. And the more we build our life on it, the more solid we’re going to be. The wind can come and cause enormous problems, but it won’t devastate life when you’re doing what God says.

John 13:17 says, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” (NIV).

This verse doesn’t say you’ll be blessed if you know these things. It says you’ll be blessed if you do them.

Maybe you’re coming out of a stormy season right now—or maybe you’re about to go through one. Regardless, we need to build our lives on the unshakeable Word of God. It’s the only foundation that can be trusted.

In this chapter, Jesus didn't wash his disciples' feet just to get them to be nice to each other. His far greater goal was to extend his mission on earth after he was gone. These men were to move into the world serving God, serving each other, and serving all to whom they took the message of salvation.

In summary, now that I know these things, I will be blessed if I do them. I am to move into the world serving; God and others who I take the message of salvation to. The ultimate goal is for God to use his Word to change my life. I become mature by intentionally and constantly applying what I'm learning. I put my knowledge into practice. It's also time to start teaching others. If I do these things, Jesus' promises will become true for me. 

Faith Is God’s Word Activated

In Romans 10:17 I read, “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” (NIV)

God promises thousands of times in the Bible that he will act on our behalf if we obey him. When I read those promises, it should give me confidence. I know that if I do what God asks of me, he has promised a certain result.  

Here is a verse that can really assist in activating my faith: “But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land” (Exodus 23:29-30 NIV).

In Exodus 23:29-30, God essentially says to the Israelites, “You know these enemies? They’re bigger than you. But I’m not going to give you the whole land in the first year. You’re going to take it over a little bit at a time—one battle at a time. So in time I’m growing stronger. And when I’m strong enough to handle it all, I’ll get it all.” 

When I read those verses, it's like a promise coming directly to me. I realized I don’t have to accomplish it all in the first year. I can spend the rest of my life serving Jesus Christ, and I do it on his timetable and at his pace. 

That understanding gives me confidence to take on enormous goals. The Word will activate my faith. God’s Word can activate the faith of others as well.

Like me, most of us aren’t confident or courageous. In fact, we’re often scared to death! We’re afraid to take risks, afraid of failure, and afraid of dying. But a person of faith should walk confidently through life. 

To be a person of faith, the Bible says in Romans 10:17, “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (NIV).

God’s Word not only tells me what to do. It also gives me the power to do it and increases my faith as you do it.

In summary, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word about Christ. I am to take God's great message of salvation to others so that they can respond to the Good News. How will others hear it unless someone tells them? All that God wants to do in my life, he does on the basis of faith. It's a matter of what I put my faith in and the amount of faith I have. I get faith by listening to the Word of God. Faith determines what God can do in my life. It's the key that unlocks promises in his Word. If I believe, I will receive whatever I ask for in prayer. When I put a little of it in a big God, I get big results. It becomes the basis for miracles which God does through people and prayer. Faith will give me the confidence to move ahead, which produces success. 

What’s the Purpose of My Struggle?

In Proverbs 20:30 I read, “Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways.” (GNT)

Consider the biggest conflict or problem I’m facing right now. Without even knowing what it is, It can be boiled down to two basic issues. First, will I obey God and do the right thing in this situation? And, second, will I trust God to take care of this situation?

The root of so many problems is really my struggle with God. I want to be in control, I want to be God, I want to be the master of my faith, I want to be in charge, I want to call the shots. But I was never meant to be or do any of those things. So God uses a crisis in my life to force the issue.

Do I ever feel that dealing with my problems is like a wrestling match? The objective of wrestling is to pin the opponent down on the mat until they finally say, “I give up. I surrender! You’re in control.”

That’s what God was doing in his wrestling match with Jacob in the Old Testament. He was going to pin Jacob down until he surrendered and gave up control.

At one point in their wrestling match, God wounded Jacob’s hip, an injury that would give him a lingering limp. Jacob was suddenly in a position of helplessness and in a situation where he couldn’t win.

Even in the midst of my no-win situation, God is there. In fact, he often uses a crisis to get my attention. God whispers to me in my pleasure, but he shouts to me in my pain.

The Bible says, “Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways” (Proverbs 20:30 GNT). In other words, I don’t change when I see the light; I change when you feel the heat.

God loves me the way I am, but he loves me too much to let me stay that way. When he makes me go through a wrestling match, he’s making me into who I was meant to be—more like Jesus Christ. He makes me weak so that I learn to depend on him for everything I need.

I rarely change until my pain becomes greater than my fear of change. If I’m wrestling with God right now, surrender to him. Therein lies the only way forward on a path marked with spiritual growth and peace.

In summary, the biggest conflict or problem I’m facing can be boiled down to two basic issues. First, will I obey God and do the right thing in this situation? And, second, will I trust God to take care of this situation? The root of so many problems is really my struggle with God. I want to be in control. I was never meant to be. So God uses a crisis in my life to force the issue. Dealing with my problems is like a wrestling match? The objective of wrestling is to pin the opponent down until they finally say, “I give up. I surrender! You’re in control.” That’s what God was doing in his wrestling match with Jacob. He was going to pin Jacob down until he surrendered and gave up control. Even in the midst of my no-win situation, God is there. In fact, he often uses a crisis to get my attention. God whispers to me in my pleasure, but he shouts to me in my pain. Often it takes a painful experience to make me change my ways. I don’t change when I see the light; I change when you feel the heat. God loves me the way I am, but he loves me too much to let me stay that way. When he makes me go through a wrestling match, he’s making me into who I was meant to be—more like Jesus. He makes me weak so that I learn to depend on him. I rarely change until my pain becomes greater than my fear of change. If I’m wrestling, surrender to him. Therein lies the only way forward.