Failure, restoration and the courage to begin again

I went back
to what I knew.

The boat.
The water.
The nets between my hands.

Perhaps I thought
the old life would ask
fewer questions of me.

All night
I worked.

Nothing.

Then morning came,
and a voice crossed the water.

Cast the net again.

I had heard words
like these before.

Before the promises.
Before the fear.
Before I said
I did not know You.

Still, I obeyed.

The net filled.

And suddenly
I knew who stood
upon the shore.

You had every reason
to remind me
of the night I failed You.

Instead,

You made a fire.

You gave me bread.

You called me closer.

And there beside the water
I began to understand:

failure may change
the way I see myself,

but it does not change
the One who calls me.

So I left the net behind

again.

Inspired Version Scripture

John 21:4–6

But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore; but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.

And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

Behind the Poem

Peter returned to fishing after the Resurrection, carrying the memory of having denied Christ. Yet Jesus met him there, not with humiliation, but with provision, fellowship and another call to follow. Our failures may expose us and humble us, but they need not become our permanent identity. Christ can meet us where we have retreated and call us forward again.

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