A New Year, A Renewed Calling
There’s something sacred about the turn of a year.
It invites reflection — on what went well, what went wrong, what surprised us, and what still aches a little when we think about it. Between December and January, we often find ourselves caught between gratitude and regret, hope and hesitation.
This week’s message met us right there — in the space between who we were and who God is calling us to become.
When the Past Still Feels Loud
In John 21, Peter stands at a crossroads.
Jesus is alive. The resurrection has happened. Hope is real again.
But Peter’s failure is still unresolved.
Not long before, Peter denied Jesus publicly — three times. And even though the miracle of the resurrection has changed everything, Peter isn’t sure what that means for him. So when uncertainty creeps in, he does what many of us do when stepping into something new feels overwhelming.
He goes back to what’s familiar.
“I’m going fishing.”
This wasn’t rest — it was retreat. A return to what felt controllable after disappointment.
Empty Nets in a New Season
Peter fishes all night and catches nothing.
Skilled fishermen. Familiar waters. Long effort. Empty nets.
It’s a powerful picture for the start of a new year. Sometimes we carry old patterns, old mindsets, or unresolved moments into a new season — and wonder why things feel unfruitful.
But here’s the grace of this story: Jesus doesn’t wait for Peter to come back to Him. He goes to Peter.
Jesus Meets Us at the Place of Retreat
Early in the morning, Jesus stands on the shore. The disciples don’t recognize Him at first — exhaustion and disappointment often blur our spiritual vision.
Jesus asks, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
Not to shame them.
To invite honesty.
Then He gives a simple instruction: “Throw your net on the other side.”
They obey — and the net fills.
Only Jesus can fill what feels empty.
Only Jesus can bring clarity where effort has failed.
Only Jesus can turn a reset into restoration.
Restoration Before Resolution
When they reach the shore, Jesus has prepared breakfast over a charcoal fire.
That detail matters.
The last time Peter stood near a charcoal fire, he denied Jesus. Now Jesus intentionally brings Peter back to that moment — not to condemn him, but to redeem him.
Three times Jesus asks, “Do you love me?”
Three times Peter responds — humbled, honest, imperfect.
Three times Jesus restores him with purpose: “Feed my sheep.”
Jesus doesn’t erase Peter’s past — He transforms it.
A New Year, A Renewed Call
Then Jesus speaks words Peter had heard before — but now they carry deeper meaning:
“Follow Me.”
Not “fix yourself.”
Not “prove yourself.”
Not “make up for what you did.”
Just — follow Me.
As we step into a new year, this is the invitation for all of us. Not to be defined by last year’s failures or successes, but to walk forward restored, lighter, and led.
Your past doesn’t disqualify you.
Your empty nets don’t determine your future.
And your calling hasn’t been canceled.
Jesus is still standing on the shore.
And He’s still calling us forward.
Peter returned to fishing when he felt unsure about his future. What “familiar places” do people often return to when facing a new season?
Why do you think Jesus chose to restore Peter at the same setting where his failure happened?
How can empty or unfruitful seasons prepare us to hear God’s direction more clearly?
Jesus restored Peter before assigning him responsibility. What does that teach us about grace and calling?
As you step into a new year, what might Jesus be inviting you to release so you can follow Him more fully?