Friend, welcome back. As the sun sets and the world grows quiet, let's slow down our hearts together and step once more into God's word. There are days when everything looks right for success and nothing happens. The nets come back empty. The fish are there, but they don't bite. And life feels the same way. You pray and nothing changes. You try and nothing happens. You serve and see no results. And somewhere in the silence a question begins to whisper. What is the use? An old fisherman was already aboard when the younger man arrived at four AM. The harbor was glowing with dock lights. Morning, the younger man said, handing him coffee. One of these is mine. Depends. On what? Whether we find fish today. The old man chuckled. If I knew that, I'd be retired. A third man joined them, quiet, thoughtful, still learning faith. And together they pushed off into the dark water. At sea, everything looked perfect. Sunrise breaking, calm waves, birds circling. They dropped their lines. Nothing. They moved spots. Nothing. Changed bait. Nothing. Hours passed. Frustration grew. Finally the younger man said This is ridiculous. The old fisherman only replied calmly. I've had empty days before. Now that's wisdom. We all face them. We pray and see no answer. We try and see no change. We serve and feel unseen. But Scripture is full of empty days. Noah preached. Jeremiah pleaded. Paul was rejected. Even Jesus was turned away. Faithfulness has never guaranteed results. It simply means keep casting. The old fisherman rebaited his hook. Same bait, yes. Same place, yes. Why? He smiled, because a hook in the boat catches nothing. That's the lesson. A gospel never shared cannot reach anyone. We can study it, we can plan it, we can talk about it, but eventually someone must cast. Jesus said Follow me, and I will make you fishermen of men. Matthew four nineteen. Not keepers of aquariums Fishers, fishermen. They moved again, still nothing. The younger man grew frustrated. The older fisherman stayed calm. Patience hasn't caught anything, the young man said. No, he replied, but impatience hasn't either. The third man finally asked, Have you ever tried to help someone come to Christ and failed? Oh yes. How do you keep going? The old fisherman answered quietly. I'm not responsible for the results. I am responsible for casting. In First Corinthians chapter three, verse six it says I planted Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. We plant, we water, God gives the increase. We cannot force hearts, we simply obey. Faith comes by hearing, Paul says in Romans chapter tense seventeen. The power is not in the fisherman, it is in the message. The old fisherman handed the younger man a casting net. Try it. He threw it, it failed. Again better. Again almost perfect. But still empty. How many times? The young man asked. The fisherman smiled until it's time to go home. Cast, empty, cast again. That is faithfulness. Peter knew this feeling all night no fish. Then Jesus said in Luke five, verse four, pull out into the deep. Peter answered, but I will do as you say, and everything changed. Near sunset the old fisherman said, One more cast. The net went out perfect. They waited. Something moved. They pulled, and suddenly the water came alive. Fish everywhere, the boat filled. The last call became the breakthrough. The boat turns towards shore. The day fades into evening. Maybe your net feels empty tonight. Maybe you're tired. Maybe you're wondering if it matters. Friends, don't quit. Rebate the hook. Step back to the edge and cast again, because somewhere a soul is waiting for someone who doesn't won't stop. The fishermen of Galilee had empty nets, but Jesus was still there, and he is still calling the day. Follow me and I will make you fishers of men. So keep your net in the water because the caste you almost gave up on may be the one God uses to bring someone home. Friend, thank you for spending this time at the water's edge with me. As you step back into your evening, remember this. God is still working in the unseen places, still moving in the quiet waters, still preparing hearts you cannot yet see. So don't stop casting, don't stop loving, don't stop praying, and don't stop sharing, because the same Lord who filled empty nets on Galilee's shore is still faithful today. Until next time, this has been Nathan Hampton with Tales of Faith by the Sea. Keep your heart steady, keep your hope anchored, and keep your net in the water. Good night, and God bless.