Something Began
to Fight...
Tragis was among a small crew on a 32 foot fishing boat, Suzanne Marie. They were fishing in the Alaskan Aleutian chain and the best places to catch Halibut were off limits that day because of exceptionally rough waters, violent winds and monster waves. They were worn out and it had been a disappointing day and they were on their way back in and nearing shore. In their approach towards shore the water was more shallow and not a good place to catch a trophy Halibut, but just at that moment Jack saw his reel move. He thought he had hooked something on the bottom, but that something began to fight! He struggled for hours trying to wear out the fish and he finally got him close enough to get a look; it was gargantuan! The 8’ long, 5’ wide and 459 pound Halibut was near impossible for three men to pull over the side of the boat to land him. They wrestled to near exhaustion and and often wondered if they would wind up in the water instead of the fish in the boat. Finally he thudded over the railing shaking the flooring of their boat. Today, he’s a trophy mounted on a wall in the Grand Aleutian Hotel in Alaska.
Just think: unacceptable weather, grueling hours, physical exhaustion, but, ONE MORE TRY! Friend, do you find yourself today, weary with life, thoroughly disappointed with your situation, failure grinning at you, grief gripping you, depression weighting you, or loss taunting you? Are you on the brink of quitting? Hold on! Don’t stop, cast again! Hear that? They’re the words of God! “Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not... Men ought always to pray, and not to faint... As we have received mercy, we faint not.”
Pray again, try again, give again, reach out again, forgive again, love again; go again. There’s hope, grace, mercy, help! Success is nearer than you can imagine!
Know someone besides you needing a little encouragement today? Pass this article along to them and tell them about BBN’s All-Christian Christmas music and our inspiring speakers. Let them know they can listen online anywhere, anytime (24/7) or on a radio station in their area (click here for BBN stations’ listing). Also, tell them about the BI where they can study God’s word with practical, passionate teachers (BBNBI.org).