Be As Patient As A Fisherman

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Matthew 4:19

    Fishermen use different lures, different rods and reels, and different weight lines for different size fish. But occasionally, a fisherman will hook a large fish on a line made for a much smaller fish. For instance, one might be using a light line for panfish, but find that they have instead hooked a twenty pound monster. When that happens, the fisherman must use great patience and very slowly bring the fish into the shore so they do not break the line and lose the fish.

    After an Evangelist preached at my Baptist Church I felt something tugging at my heartstrings. When the call came to come forth for salvation, as a young teenager I was shy and did not like to go in front of any group of people for anything. Yet like a fish on a light line, the Lord reeled me in ever so gently until I found myself beside the Evangelist giving my heart to Jesus.

    Patience is needed for many things in life. From witnessing to others about Christ, to enduring the hardship that comes into our lives, we need the patience of a fisherman.

    I must admit that patience is not my best virtue. I don’t like waiting for things, and having to be patient often feels more like punishment than a gift when necessary. Yet I have seen patience “pay off” when practiced. Just like the fisherman catching that big fish when willing to take their time bringing it to shore.

    When one is suffering and told to be patient, that can feel like a slap in the face. Yet, what else can we do? We need patience.

 

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

    Almost every day of our lives we will need patience. It is tempting to get angry, frustrated, complain, and gripe when troubles come. Yet in those times we need patience most.

    Prayer: Dear Lord, give us patience in affliction, and all the other times we will need it. Thank You. Amen.