Jesus plans life best

You asked for a mountain bike for your birthday, and you didn't get it. You wished to win a basketball free-throw contest, and you lost. You prayed your sick grandma would get better, and she died.

Sometimes, it feels like God never gives you anything you want. But in this week's Gospel (Luke 5:1-11), Jesus tells us that what God has planned for us is even better than what we want for ourselves!

esus saw two fishing boats at the Sea of Galilee. He sat in one to teach for a while, then told Simon Peter, its owner, "Throw your nets out again." "We've caught nothing all day!" Simon said, but he threw his nets out -- and pulled them back full of fish! Simon said to Jesus, "I don't deserve this. I'm a sinner." But Jesus said, "Don't be afraid. Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people." And all the fishermen left everything and followed Jesus.

When you're throwing basketballs or imagining birthday presents, all you can think of is what you want. You're sure that if God knows you want something this much, you'll get it.

The fishermen Jesus met felt that way, too. They just wanted to be good at their jobs: to catch lots of fish so they could have money to feed their families. That was all they thought about.

If something happens that you didn't expect, like losing a contest or a person you love, you feel hurt. If God loves you, why didn't you get what you wanted? That's how the fishermen felt. They were being good, but they hadn't caught any fish.

Getting what you want doesn't always make you happy. If your grandma was ready to go to heaven, but instead she suffered for a long time, you'd feel sad. If you got a bike and none of your friends had one, you'd be lonely.

God always has better plans than us. Jesus let Simon and his friends catch fish, but then He showed them a way to be happier: by following Him.

Jesus knew it's scary to listen to God instead of asking for what we want, but He knows what everyone needs, and He's always taking care of us -- even when we don't get what we want.

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Jesus, help me trust you to give me good things, even if they're not what I expect! Amen.