He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some” (John 21:5-6).
Every fisherman knows the long night with nothing to show for it. The disciples lived that night twice, once in Luke 5 when Jesus first called them, and again in John 21 after the resurrection. Both times they fished through the night to exhaustion, caught nothing, and then watched Jesus turn an empty net into an overwhelming haul. That pattern holds a lesson for every fundraiser who has ever come home empty-handed.
We all go through “no fish” seasons
These men had fished these waters their whole lives. Lack of experience was not their problem. Some of your most frustrating seasons come when everything looks right on paper. Good team. Strong database. Compelling ministry story. All the right pieces in place. The calls are made, the visits are scheduled, your story is ready. And still…nothing.
We must be honest about our situation
Jesus asked the one question they didn’t want to answer. We don’t like to see reality. We would rather sugarcoat our results by focusing on our activity. Simon didn’t dodge it. He said what most of us only think: “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.” You might say something similar: “I didn’t reach my fundraising target, but I’ve met my goals of how many calls, how many personal visits, how many asks.” Activity is worth tracking, but you must be productive.
We must listen to advice
What did this stranger know about fishing? You might have the same attitude. After all, you are in the trenches every day. You know your donors, your ministry, and your strategies. But sometimes we lose our perspective because we are so close to the situation. Listen to a colleague with an idea, a board member with a suggestion, a donor with a lead, or a trusted outside voice. Fresh eyes often see what familiarity hides.
We must act boldly
“No fish” seasons are not the time to quit. It’s the time for a new strategy and renewed resolve. Jesus told them to throw their nets on the right side of the boat. Peter’s response in Luke captures the same spirit of reluctant obedience: “But because you say so, I will let down the nets” (Luke 5:5). Our most important counsel comes from the Spirit who promised through Isaiah: “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it'” (Isaiah 30:21). Are you asking the Lord to reveal who you should call, visit, and ask?
Think About This: When the Lord got involved, “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 5:6-7). God can take your simple acts of faith and pour out blessing you cannot contain.
Response: Lord, give me direction in my “no fish” moments. Help me work faithfully and trust you for net-breaking results.
