Carried

Anchor Scripture: John 21: 11

What God gives us is never too big for Him to carry. He will help us, sustain us, and bear us up.

In John 21, after Jesus had risen, He appeared to His disciples again — almost as if to remind them that though He was no longer physically with them, He would never leave them. He directed them to where they could catch fish, and when they pulled in the net, it did not break. Then he fellowshipped with them, helped prepare food, and they ate together, and were encouraged.

We do not have a High Priest who is unaware of our pain. He understands, He bears us up, and He helps us because He has walked in our shoes. In our journey with God, there are times when we cannot walk alongside Him — in those moments, He carries us. And no matter what, we never stop moving in the direction of our purpose. 

The Net Did Not Break

Why was it important to note that the net didn’t break?
Perhaps because the net wasn’t built to carry such a heavy load, or maybe they had never caught so many fish before. In any case, it was significant — the miracle was not just in the catch, but in the fact that the net held. This meant no mess, no distraction from the message.

Interestingly, the first time this miracle happened in Luke 5:6, the nets began to break. But here, John 21:11 points out clearly: “the net did not break.” It’s almost as if God was reassuring them — I am with you, I will carry you, no matter the weight.

God Carries Us Even at Our Highest Point

Think of an aircraft — it starts with the grind along the runway, then it gains speed, takes off, and reaches altitude where it can coast for a moment before preparing to land. At our highest points, when we think we are self-sufficient, we still need God to carry us.

Sometimes we pray for blessings but secretly fear receiving them because the “catch” might feel too heavy to carry. The truth is, in our strength we can do nothing, but with God, we can do all things.

Returning to the Basics

Often, when there’s a break in transmission — a “death season” where it feels like nothing is moving and God seems silent — we are tempted to return to the small, familiar, and comfortable. But God calls us back to the vision, the basics - His Word. He reminds us of the purpose, encourages us to believe again, and strengthens us to hold on to His word.

This is like a “reboot” of our system, and it is the work of the same Spirit who called us in the first place. Even the things we thought were dead can be resurrected when He carries us. 

Final Encouragement

When God gives a word, it might not make sense in the moment, but we must trust Him for the miracle and the blessing. Like the disciples, we must obey when He calls, and not be afraid.

The net did not break — and neither will you.