A fishing tale …

Fishing is something I’ve done very little of. I’ve gone out a few times as a teen, and a grand total of once as an adult.

The outing as an adult was probably a decade ago. A friend from church wanted to take his boat out near the Carquinez Straits in the San Francisco bay area to do some fishing and he invited me to come along. I thought it could be fun and looked forward to spending some time with my friend.

We were on the water the next day by 9 a.m. I looked forward to the possibilities. Would I snag a monster sturgeon? Well, it didn’t have to be such a grand prize but I’m a competitive guy so I was ready for the challenge to begin.

So I waited …

… and waited …

… and waited …

… and then waited some more.

At about ten minutes before 4 p.m., I hadn’t had a single bite.

Nothing.

Hours earlier I had already semi given up and focused more on listening to my friend tell his many tales than give any real attention to the fishing. So I was ready to pack it in.

Just as I was about to suggest we head back, I got a bite.

A big hit!

I battled with whatever was on the end of my line for nearly ten minutes before pulling in a large sting ray, which we let go.

But suddenly, I was thinking … you know, maybe a few more minutes. A few more minutes and possibly I’ll get another bite … let’s just give it a few more minutes at least …

What was the difference between being ready to pack it in verses now wanting to hang out a little longer?

Hope.

Catching the sting ray gave me hope that I could possibly catch something. that it could happen.

Hope is that essential element that helps you “hang in there” when life is rough, or simply slow. It’s an expectation that something better, something just, something right, or even something enjoyable, can come your way.

That’s what Christ brings to our lives, hope for living a life of purpose and substance. Romans 15:13 says, “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

If you’ve been lacking in hope, let me encourage you to put your trust in Jesus Christ. He will strengthen you through the Holy Spirit, and give you confidence through your trust in Him.

Scotty