“Rusty Nelson’s Instagram” wrote: For me, deep-sea fishing has been infrequent but instructive. Success requires patience, persistence, and prayer.
As we begin this new year and make resolutions to improve things in our lives, these three requisites for successful fishing can help us.
First, be patient. As with fishing, real change requires time—and often a lot of time. It is tempting to expect immediate results and then become disappointed when things don’t work out exactly as planned. This may be why the Apostle Paul counseled us to “run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).
Second, be persistent. Keep at it, even when things get difficult. Push through the tough times, and realize that even small victories mean you are having success. The Savior “waxed strong in spirit” (Luke 2:40) as He grew older. We too can wax strong in spirit and in our talents and habits if we persevere.
Third, be prayerful. Call upon God for the strength you need as you labor diligently to become a better version of yourself—a better disciple of Jesus Christ, a brighter light in the world. For “they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).
Happy New Year, my dear friends. May the Lord bless us all as we endeavor to become more like Him.
“The good news” wrote: One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
I can’t think of a more appropriate visual metaphor than the real apostles pulling up their boats, leaving Rusty out there on his deep sea fishing adventure with the church’s Instagram photographers. Staging another vapid object lesson for social media.
