A Parable of the Catfish

There was a man, who like most men, wishes to care for his family in all ways. And like most men then, money was tight. One day he decided to go bass fishing and he needed God's help. He prayed and prayed that God would provide for him fish to feed his family. His family prayed. His church leader prayed. There was faith. The morning to fish was selected, and this man was fishing before sunrise on the local lake. After two hours of casting to no avail, additional prayers were made. Moments later, a fish struck the lure. A fish was on. It fought hard and it seemed big. The fisherman was excited. While bringing the fish to shore, he uttered a prayer of thanksgiving in his heart. His family would eat. Upon seeing the large fish for the first time his heart sank. It was a catfish. The fisherman thought, "What luck, a trash fish. I wouldn't eat that." The fish was spared and thrown back into the lake. Immediately, the fisherman recollected the prayers that were offered on his family's behalf. He began to think of the recipes that he had heard of using catfish. He suddenly realized that the Lord had answered his prayers, yet it was not what he wanted. He wanted bass, not catfish. The Lord provided the fish and the fisherman threw it back. Tears came to the fisherman's eyes. On his knees, at the edge of the lake, the fisherman begged for forgiveness and vowed to never throw back another fish. He continued to fish for another hour and a half. Nothing. Not even a nibble. The fisherman left the lake that day with heavy heart, but lessoned learned.

How often do we receive answers to prayers and determine that the answer was not good enough? Have we ever thrown back the fish?

This lesson hit me very hard today. Very hard.





Today...I was that fisherman.