the 153 season

By Richie Breaux

I remember the heat of the Persian Gulf, the blare of alarms in the dead of night and the trembling stillness of waiting for a missile we couldn’t stop. It was 2003, during the early days of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and I was stationed aboard a Navy warship, serving as the bridge between central command and our ship’s captain.

When the general quarters alarm went off—often in the dead of night—I’d grab my headset, take my position and wait for orders, adrenaline coursing through me like a live wire. Every call I relayed carried consequence. Some nights it was a drill. Other nights it was the kind of call that could tilt the balance between life and death.

We were trained to prepare for the worst and trust that our preparation would hold. But the deeper truth was this: we were never really in control. I remember the first time we faced off with an Iraqi warship. My mind raced with one haunting thought: if they fire, we can’t stop it. We’ll have to take the hit—and pray we survive.

That was the moment when Proverbs 21:31 became more than a verse to me: “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.” I clung to that promise. It steadied me. It reminded me that I still had a role to play—readiness, discipline, diligence—but the outcome? That belonged to Someone else.

What I learned at sea I’ve carried into every other battlefield of life—family, leadership, entrepreneurship. We prepare. We train. We plan. But the weight of the outcome doesn’t rest on our shoulders. That’s the freedom faith offers: a perspective that acknowledges both responsibility and release.

Think of a warrior before the battle—tightening straps, sharpening blades, checking gear, mentally rehearsing the unknown. That was us on the ship. That’s me in business. And maybe, in your own way, that’s you today—preparing like everything depends on you, while learning to surrender what you can’t control.

It’s not just about doing the work. It’s about doing it with purpose, grounded in faith. If we truly believe the outcome is already secure in God’s hands, then our job becomes stewardship—taking care of what we’ve been given with excellence and integrity.

I’m not leading alone in the battle. There has been a Partner walking with me, orchestrating the path ahead, long before I ever realized it. Not a passive spectator in the sky, but a present force—leading, guiding and laying out moments of opportunity like steppingstones across the ocean—all in His perfect timing.

That’s a truth worth sitting with: preparation matters in leadership, but it’s not the whole story. Timing and alignment play a part we simply can’t manufacture. Every leader has moments where things click into place in a way that defies logic.

You don’t have to have all the answers to take the next step in your leadership journey. Begin with gratitude. Look for where your preparation meets possibility. And if you’re brave enough, ask yourself the question I had to ask: What if there’s more going on here than I can see?

But let’s not sugarcoat it. If you’re cutting corners in your business—cheating, lying, dishonoring people to get ahead—don’t chalk your success up to divine favor. That weight is yours to carry, and it’s heavy. Trust me, you don’t want to walk that path alone.

The good news for every leader? It’s never too late to reroute. One decision of integrity can shift the entire direction of your leadership. You can step off the shortcut and onto a path of obedience—right now. Leadership isn’t about perfection. It’s about direction. And the moment your leadership turns toward what’s right, God meets you there. That’s what happens when you step in stride with God—the One who’s been waiting to turn your renewed diligence into a harvest of impact you couldn’t have imagined.

PREPARING THE FIELD FOR RAIN

There’s a scene in the movie Facing the Giants that always gets me. The coach is worn out. His team’s losing. His home life is under pressure. And then the school pastor walks in with a simple story about two farmers. Both prayed for rain. But only one prepared his fields to receive it.

Faith without action is dead. But action without faith misses the point entirely.

That’s a truth I’ve come to know personally. Whether it’s been on a warship, on the football field or in the boardroom, I’ve learned that we’re called to do everything we can—and then let go. Like the farmer, we prepare the field. We get the ground ready. We build systems. We make the calls. We show up, day in and day out. But in the end, the rain doesn’t come because of our hustle. It comes when heaven opens.

Show up and prepare like everything depends on you, but believe like everything depends on God. The work matters. The strategy matters. But without faith, it becomes performance. And without integrity, it becomes manipulation. What you’re building only lasts if the foundation is right.

RIGHT SIDE OF THE BOAT

From 2017 to 2019 our business began to take on a momentum we hadn’t seen before. We expanded our staff—project managers, coordinators, office support. We fine-tuned our systems, shored up operations and doubled down on preparing for growth. The signs were there. We sensed something big was ahead, and we did everything we could to be ready for it.

Then came the milestone: a $2 million luxury home remodel. Our first high-end, large-scale project. The kind of opportunity we’d spent years preparing for. But looking back, it wasn’t just our hard work that got us there. I’ve heard it said that “luck is when preparation meets opportunity.” I’d go one step further: God’s favor is when your preparation aligns with His timing.

February 2020 rolled in, and we were greenlit and geared up. Permits in hand, team prepped, everything ready to go. It felt like the beginning of a new season. We were stepping into what we had been building toward. But then—March 2020. The world shut down.

COVID-19 didn’t just pause our plans. It pulled the rug out from under them. Job sites closed. Subcontractors canceled. Clients withdrew. Our momentum hit a wall. And just like that, all our careful planning felt powerless. We were left staring at stillness where there had once been motion.

If you’ve ever poured yourself into something—business, ministry, a dream—only to see it stall through no fault of your own, you know the kind of disorientation I’m talking about. It shakes you. Makes you question everything: Am I doing the right thing? Is this still what I’m called to? Did I miss something?

That’s where I found myself. And it reminded me of a story I’ve read a hundred times but never felt so personally—John 21. After the crucifixion the disciples go back to fishing, but just like before, all their effort, skill and knowledge yield zero return.

And then, a voice from the shore: “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” They answer, “No.” The voice says, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”

It doesn’t make sense logically. They’d been casting nets all night. But something in that moment—a mix of humility, fatigue and faith—compels them to try one more time. A few feet to the right. That’s all it took. The nets come up overflowing.

That story took on new meaning for me during COVID. Like them, we had done everything we knew to do. But the breakthrough didn’t come from pushing harder—it came from being willing to pivot in obedience. To cast on the other side.

In the middle of the shutdown, we revisited every system, re-engaged our clients and crafted a detailed safety protocol. We sent it out to everyone. Only one client responded. But it was the right one—the luxury project. The one that sustained us through that season. It gave our team focus. It gave our business visibility. It became the breakthrough that carried us forward.

That’s the power of the “right side of the boat.”

Sometimes the breakthrough isn’t a massive change. It’s a small shift, a subtle nudge, a willingness to obey when the instructions don’t seem to add up. What separated that moment in John 21 wasn’t effort—it was alignment.

So, here’s what I’ve learned: You can have the right tools, the right team and the right timing—but without the right source, you’ll still come up empty. Obedience is the power supply. It’s what turns preparation into provision.

If you’re in a season that feels like empty nets, don’t panic. Don’t overcorrect. Listen for the voice. Watch for the whisper. Be open to shifting—even just a few feet.

Because your “153 catch” might be waiting—on the other side of the boat.

153 SEASON

Despite the uncertainty that hovered over every conversation that year, we experienced something surprising: peace. Not because we had answers, but because we realized we were prepared.

My time in the Navy came rushing back. The drills. The discipline. The readiness for the unknown. We were trained to expect the unexpected, to build habits that could hold under pressure. That same spirit came alive in our business. Every job paused. Every project went silent. But we didn’t panic. We built a plan.

It wasn’t flashy. It was faithful. We emailed our clients a new strategy—how we could move forward safely, responsibly and within the guidelines. We emphasized that construction was still considered essential in Hawaii, and we showed them how we’d protect both people and progress.

All it took was that one luxury remodel we’d been so excited about—the same project we thought we might lose—to not only carry us but elevate us. Suddenly, with most jobs frozen, we had a clear lane. Our full team was available. The homeowner was off-island. The path was clear. It wasn’t coincidence. It was confirmation.

God was doing what only He could do: making a way where there seemed to be none. While others scrambled to pivot, we stepped into a plan we didn’t even realize we had been preparing for.

We completed the home in six months—during a global shutdown. It hit the covers of major luxury home magazines. We earned design-build awards. And from that moment forward, we stopped surviving and started innovating.

We introduced paperless blueprints. Equipped our team with iPads. Made client communication more seamless. And we didn’t keep it to ourselves—we shared what we’d learned with other builders. We became thought leaders, not just tradespeople.

By 2021, the momentum had turned into a surge. We landed on the Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest-growing construction companies in the nation. We were honored locally, featured nationally and voted Best Builder and Best Interior Designer in Hawaii.

But here’s the thing—this isn’t about magazine covers and milestones.

It’s about a moment of surrender. A pivot of faith. A season when obedience, preparation and divine timing collided. That’s what I call the 153 Season.

When the disciples—professional fishermen—fished all night, they caught nothing until Jesus called from the shore: “Cast your net on the right side.” Their obedience scored them exactly 153 fish.

Not 152. Not 154. The number was precise. The blessing was tailored.

The net didn’t tear. The boat didn’t sink. The catch was more than enough—but not more than they could handle.

That’s how God works when we trust His direction over our own hustle. The 153 Season isn’t about working harder—it’s about working in rhythm with heaven.

It’s about that moment when everything clicks. When your faith, your obedience and your diligence align—and the results are unmistakable. It’s not just about growth. It’s about grace. It’s not just progress. It’s provision.

So, if you’ve been working all night and coming up empty, don’t quit.

Maybe the answer isn’t found in casting farther, but in casting differently.

Maybe your next breakthrough is just a few feet to the right.

And maybe, just maybe, Jesus is already standing on the shore—waiting to show you where to throw your net.

JUMPING IN THE WATER

Let’s talk about what real leadership looks like—not just when you’re hustling to make something happen, but when the nets are full and the wins are rolling in. The condition of your heart in the middle of a breakthrough matters more than the breakthrough itself.

When we step into a 153 Season—that sacred space when everything aligns, and God’s provision shows up undeniably—it’s easy to get caught up in the overflow. But leadership at that moment isn’t about riding the wave. It’s about remembering who stirred the waters.

Deuteronomy 8:11-14 gives us a warning and a window into what happens when we’re not careful:

“Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God . . . Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down . . . then your heart will become proud, and you will forget the Lord your God.”

We prepare. We work. We lead. But the second we forget where the blessing came from, we risk losing the very heart of our calling.

That’s why I keep going back to Peter. His reaction to the miracle in John 21 wasn’t to count the fish or rally the team. The moment he realized it was Jesus standing on the shore, he jumped out of the boat and swam straight toward Him. No hesitation. No strategy meeting. Just pursuit.

That’s the kind of leadership that changes lives.

Peter didn’t let the provision distract him from the Provider. That’s the kind of heart I want. That’s the kind of leader I want to be. One who doesn’t just steward success—but stays centered in relationship. Who knows that the win isn’t the full net—it’s the chance to draw closer to the One who filled it.

If you’re in leadership—whether you’re running a business, pastoring a church or leading a team—you know how easy it is to get caught up in numbers. The growth. The impact. The milestones. But what if the true test of leadership isn’t how we handle the drought, but how we handle the harvest?

In John 21, while the others were pulling in the heavy nets, Jesus had already lit a fire. He had fish and bread ready. He didn’t just provide—He prepared a table. And His invitation was simple:

“Come and have breakfast.”

Think about that. Jesus didn’t just celebrate the success from afar. He invited them to sit with Him in it. That’s what makes the 153 Season so sacred—it’s not just about the blessing. It’s about the breakfast. It’s about the moment after the miracle, where Jesus reminds you, “I’m not just the source. I’m your companion.”

Real leaders remember that.

We prepare our nets—that’s diligence. We show up, stay sharp, keep doing the work even when the results aren’t instantaneous. But breakthrough doesn’t come from grind alone. It comes from obedience—throwing your net on the other side even when it makes no sense.

Some days you’ll fish all night and come up empty. Others, the nets will strain with abundance. But either way, Jesus is standing on the shore, calling out, inviting you to something deeper. Not just to be successful—but to be connected. To lead from presence, not just performance.

So, here’s the call: don’t just prepare your nets. Be ready to pivot. Be ready to swim toward Him when the moment comes. And when it does—when the 153 Season hits—don’t just count the fish.

Sit down. Break bread. Honor the One who filled your nets.

Because in the end, it’s not just about what you’ve built. It’s about Who you’ve built it with.

Enjoyed the article? Dive deeper by grabbing Richie Breaux’s book here: https://account.theartofleadership.com/qc/WJVia8ACPW