Let Down Your Nets: Trusting in times of financial difficulty

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.

—Luke 5:5-6

Have you ever worked so hard that you gave it your all, all your physical and mental strength, yet in the end the results were paltry, if anything? Maybe you didn’t get the raise. Your new business didn’t turn a profit. Or the balance on your debt didn’t go down after a string of payments.

Does God care?

Now that coronavirus has changed our society, you may be out of work or have had to close your business that you worked so hard to establish.

Does God care?

Recently I watched the first season of The Chosen, a new TV series that brings to life the stories of the Bible. One of my favorite scenes, from Episode 4, captures the story of Luke 5 where Jesus used Simon Peter’s boat to stand in while teaching the crowd of people on the shore.  

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 (Luke 5:4-6).

Photo: The Chosen Facebook Page

The Chosen does a beautiful job of building a probable backstory to this miracle. Peter owes a huge tax debt and is on the brink of going under. In a last ditch effort to come up with the money, he and his companions go fishing. However, after a long night on the water, they return to shore empty-handed. But as the story goes, Peter, while at first incredulous, obeys Jesus’ command to let down the nets, and the fish come, filling them up with such a jolt it threatens to turn the boat over. At Peter’s call for help, his companions run to assist. Together they hoist the bulging nets into the hull, laughing at such a catch. And there is Jesus, watching from the shore and clapping, delight spreading all over His face.

Jesus delights in delighting.

Later in the scene He gives a nod toward heaven, giving credit where credit is due.

God does care. He cares about every detail of your life, including your finances.

Ironically (or not, when God is involved), the same week I watched The Chosen, I received my own boatload of blessing. Like Peter, I too was incredulous when I first heard of the upcoming provision. But I decided to check it out.

Due to the pandemic, the Federal Government has granted financial relief through a variety of means, one of which is in regards to student loans. I owe a huge debt for my daughters’ college loans and am making payments, with their help, on an income-driven plan. Still, the payments cause financial strain for all of us. Since I am a public school teacher, I qualify for Public Servant Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), which means that after making 120 payments on the plan, I will have the balance forgiven. But because we are only three years in, the end seems a long ways off.

I did some googling and found what I was looking for. When I read on the Student Aid site that payments on income-driven plans were suspended for seven months and that the suspended payments counted toward the 120 for PSLF, I could hardly believe my eyes. Could this really be true?

I had to call my federal loan servicer to verify. After waiting several minutes on hold, I was connected to an agent who confirmed what I had read. Wow, wow, wow.

Thank You, God.

While others might say that was a provision from the government, I say give credit where credit is due. It is only through God that we are blessed, that we have anything at all.

God sees your hard work; He sees your diligence. He cares and He will make a way, whether it’s through a stimulus check, unemployment payments, a small business grant, or some other means you have never imagined.

Get ready. Obey like Peter and follow His instructions, doing what you know is right. Let down your nets and get ready for the catch.

Dear God, thank You for Your watchful eye. You see and You care. You are ever faithful to Your promises. Help me to obey and trust You, especially through these tough times. You will bring forth the blessing, in ways that only You can do. Amen.