Launching into Deeper Water

By Donna McMorrow

“One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

“When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’

“Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’” – Luke 5:1-5

Can you picture the crowd at the water’s edge, pressing on Jesus so that He asks a fisherman to let Him stand in His boat? Can you smell the salty air and hear the cries of the birds soaring overhead and the deep rumbling voice of our Savior speaking words of truth? Then  Jesus turns to Simon, who was to become Peter, and asks him to launch out into the deep water. Jesus didn’t make an announcement to the crowd or speak to the fishermen in general. Jesus was in Simon’s boat. A boat about the size of a rowboat—small, close, intimate. Jesus leaned over and spoke to Simon directly, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets.” So the men launched their boats into the deep water and caught so many fish that the nets couldn’t hold them all. From then on, Simon, James and John began to follow Jesus.

I don’t know about you, but I like to play in the shallow waters myself. It’s familiar in the shallows. There is something comfortable about knowing that the water isn’t too deep. I like to stay where I can see the bottom. There aren’t any unknowns in the shallow water. There are fewer risks. 

Unlike me, though, Simon was a fisherman. He was used to leaving sight of the shore. But on that morning, he was a tired, failed fisherman. Simon had been out all night and caught nothing. He had given up on fishing for the day. He was just starting to get comfortable. He was just about to take a much-needed rest when Jesus asked him to try again. Jesus told Simon not to go out just a little further but to take his little boat and go into the deep water. This wasn’t the time to get comfortable.  

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as  eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”  – Isaiah 40:31 

It was time to do something that Simon Peter had never done before—to take a leap of faith and to launch out into the deep. To not be satisfied to stay near the comfortable shore. To sail on eagle’s wings. To put out his nets where the waves had once rolled over him. It was time to launch into the unknown, into his future with Christ. To go, and to follow, just because Jesus said so. To let down his nets to an abundant harvest, to a miracle, to deeper things. Jesus calls us, too. So launch out into deeper water, leave the comfort of the shore, and experience a deeper walk with Him.

Donna McMorrow and her husband have been married for 41 years. She is a retired special education teacher, adoptive parent, cancer survivor and child of the King. In her free time, she enjoys reading, photography and painting.