Deeper Waters

I love the ocean. The smell of fresh, salty air. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore. The look of the tide as it rolls in at sunset. For a season of our lives, my husband and I lived not too far from the ocean along the California coast and every weekend of the summer, we would go to the beach to enjoy the weather and the waves. My husband, being the adventurer that he is, would always run out to the water, and somehow try to convince me to follow suit. Maybe it was my overly cautious, risk-assessing personality, but something about the ocean always kept me from going in very deep. I preferred to stay on the shore where it was safe and comfortable on my beach towel. I was afraid of what might happen if I ventured too many steps into the water.

We see something similar happen with the disciples in Luke 5 as Jesus tells them to go “deeper” into the water and try once more to catch some fish. 

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. (Luke 5:4-7 NLT)

In Luke 5 we see Jesus call the disciples to go out deeper into waters they had already been fishing in—but had caught nothing. I can almost picture Simon’s frustration and hesitancy as he tells Jesus, “If you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” And as they let the nets down, they were left in awe at the miracle that took place, as had happened at many of Jesus’ works. Unlike their previous times fishing, the amount of fish they caught was so great that it began to tear the nets! Furthermore, the other boat that came to help had its nets fill with fish! When they went deeper as the Lord had asked, others even got in on the blessing. Their faith was restored and all because they trusted Jesus and went a little deeper into the water.

This story reminds me of my time at the beach, but also about the many times I have felt stuck on the shores of my life. You see, it’s much easier to stay on the shore than it is to go deeper into the secret place with the Lord and reopen wounds, hurts, and even unanswered prayers. The disciples had to face that weariness when Jesus told them, “Try again.” But when Jesus told the disciples to go “deeper” into waters where they had fished before with disappointment, they trusted Him and they tried once more.

Maybe that is how you feel today. Is the Lord calling you to let down your nets again and go deeper with Him? In what areas of your life?

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O LORD, do not abandon those who search for you. Psalm 9:10

We know that we serve a God who is faithful—time and time again, to every generation who worships Him. We can trust Him with our lives and with our needs. Even when we have come up short before, we can rest knowing that obedience brings about blessings.

Jesus replied, “But even more blessed rather are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” Luke 11:28

Today, let us go deeper with the Lord. Back to the place of prayer and worship. Let us go back to the place of full surrender. And in doing so, we will experience just what the disciples did: an overflowing, multiplying—even unto others—move of God in our lives.