The Other Side of the Porch!

I was eagerly awaiting the arrival of a package the other day. I'd followed its status via the internet for weeks! Finally, the day it was to be delivered had arrived! All day I listened for the sound of the delivery truck. Every chance I got, morning, noon and into the evening, I'd make sure my path ran by the front door to be certain I had not missed the all important arrival. But each time, I was greeted with the same empty spot where boxes are usually left on our front porch. Late that night in utter disappointment, I went back to the computer to check on the matter, and to my surprise, saw that the status on my package had been changed to "DELIVERED--left on customers' front porch"! Well, I thought, that just can't be right, there's nothing out there! Immediately I heard that unmistakable voice within quietly prompt me to "look on the other side of the porch." That's silly, no one EVER leaves boxes on the other side of the porch! Again, I was prompted from within, "Look on the other side!" Well, I did, and, you guessed it, there was the package I'd been awaiting all day!

Reminds me of another story -- Simon Peter and a few of the disciples were sitting by the Sea of Tiberias. They decided to go fishing. All night they fished and by morning had nothing to show for it. When dawn broke, Jesus was standing on the shore. He saw their dilemma and told them to cast their nets on the other side of the boat. Scripture tells us that "they cast the net and now they were not able to haul it in for such a big catch of fish [was in it]." John 21:6 AMP.

Are you like me? Do you find yourself doing the same old things, looking in the same places, hoping against hope for different outcomes, yet coming up with "empty nets" and seeing "empty porches" day after day? Perhaps what Jesus told the disciples, and what the Holy Spirit whispered to me applies to your life as well. "Cast to the other side of the boat!" "Look on the other side of the porch!" God may not always be where we think He should be! When we're walking in faith, sometimes we may just need to look in unexpected places to find what we seek!