“Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”” John 21:16

Dear Friends in Christ

I am Pastor Sophia. Have you ever worked really hard at something and still ended up with… nothing?

You make plans. You keep trying. You pray about it. You do what you can. And still… the results don’t look anything like what you hoped for.

Yes. There are those other times when we pull up the net and think, “Really? That’s it?” 

Welcome to Simon Peter’s Club.

In Luke 5, Peter and the other fishermen had worked all night and caught nothing. They were exhausted. Yet Jesus asked Peter to put out into deeper water and try again.

Years later, in John 21, Peter found himself beside another empty net. After everything he had experienced with Jesus—including his failure and denial—Peter was back on the water, fishing through the night, and once again catching nothing.

I love that Jesus met Peter in both moments.

Jesus was there when Peter’s nets were overflowing, and Jesus was there when they were completely empty.

That is a good reminder for us, too. God is with us not only in our successful seasons but also in our empty ones.

Then in John 21, Jesus doesn’t ask Peter, “Why did you fail?” or “How many fish did you catch?”

Jesus simply asks, “Do you love me?” Then Jesus says, “Feed my sheep.”

Maybe that’s what Jesus asks of us, too.

Not, “Did you accomplish everything?” But, “Do you love me? Feed my sheep.”

Thank you, God. Our worth isn’t measured by how much we accomplish. What matters most is that we keep loving Jesus and letting that love flow into the way we care for one another.

Sometimes “feeding the sheep” may look very ordinary—a phone call, a kind word, a meal, a prayer, a warm welcome, or simply sitting with someone who needs a friend, and inviting people to God.

Yes, maybe our net becomes empty, again. Peter reminds us that an empty net is not the end of the story.

So, wherever you are this week—whether your nets are full, empty, or you can’t even find your nets!—remember that Jesus is right there with you.

Let’s worship God together. Keep loving, serving, and trusting together.

Yes… we’ll even catch a few fish along the way!

Sophia (Seung Hae) Yoo-Hess