Give it a Shot

I am amazed when I look back over my life at all the things I have left undone. 
You know what I’m talking about. The: I meant to do this - The: I meant to get that done – 
The: I meant to reach out to that person.

Many of our path’s are littered with ‘meant to’s.’ We start out with the best intentions, but the unexpected shows up and turns our steering wheels in the opposite direction.

I heard John Maxwell say recently that many organizations are full of people that get ready…they aim…and aim…and aim…and aim. No one is willing to pull the trigger and fire.

Organizations, churches, marriages, and many individuals have been held back from greatness for this very reason. Many are still aiming, wishing, and hoping for greatness to just show up instead of focusing on what fixes the underlying issue.

(Bethesda Fountain)
Central Park - New York, NY

What is that underlying issue in your life that keeps you from pulling the trigger? For the most part, we are either afraid of success – or we are afraid of the ‘process’ that leads to success. So our lives are constantly filled with I MEANT TO’s. We might accomplish a task here and there, but we never reach the potential of what could have been.

After the death of Christ on the cross, Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, the sons of Zebedee, and two other of His disciples went fishing. Scripture tells us that they fished all night long and caught nothing. Jesus showed up (they did not yet know it was Him) and said, “Cast your nets on the other side and you’ll catch fish.” Here are seasoned fishermen who had fished all night and caught nothing. Yet, this guy walks up the next morning and simply says, ‘Have you tried the other side of the boat?’ They gave it a shot and more fish than they could pull in filled their nets.

(National Mall - Lincoln Memorial)
Washington, D.C.

There is a trait that these few men had to have had in order to experience this incredible miracle. Don’t think for one minute that these guys were not prideful in their work. They knew exactly what they were doing. They had no idea that this was Jesus who said to cast your nets on the other side. They could have made the decision to tell that individual standing on the bank, “Do you know who we are? Mister, we have done this for a living and have tried everything during the night. Who do you think you are to instruct us?” They could have…but they didn’t.

Humility caused them to give it a shot. Pride will keep you aiming for a good life. Pride will keep you hoping one day for a successful marriage, a successful family, and career. Pride will keep you from recognizing God’s voice as He speaks to you. Pride will keep you ready and aiming to accomplish this or that…but it will fill you with such doubt and fear that you will never pull the trigger. Pride will keep you from taking the shot.

James 4:10: Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Give it a shot, and don’t fear the success that follows.