Giving Up and Going Deeper

Luke 5:3-5

He (Jesus) got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the land. Then He sat down and was teaching the crowds from the boat. When He (Jesus) had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”

“Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing! But at Your word, I’ll let down the nets.”

Simon had worked hard all night and had caught nothing. He and his buddies had given up and were cleaning their nets when Jesus got in his boat. Although he had ceased from his efforts, he took the boat out from the shore as Jesus asked. After Jesus taught from the boat, He gave Simon an instruction to put out into deep water and let his nets out. Upon following Jesus’s command, Simon caught a mess of fish like he had never caught before, even though his previous experience and efforts had gained him nothing.

Things change when Jesus gets in your boat. For Simon, Jesus taught the truth of God’s word, and many around heard it. Simon’s catch was an illustration of the obedience of His teaching. When Simon put into action the faith He had in Christ upon His word, his experience changed.

I’ve found myself many times in a place where my experiences didn’t quite match my faith. I can put forth effort all day and all night long with no results and am often very good at it! Jesus urged Simon to go a little deeper – a little farther – in his faith and act upon instruction. When we’ve exhausted all our efforts and are at the point of giving up, Jesus just might be calling us into a little deeper waters with Him. If we will obey, we will find blessings beyond our imagination and ability to handle, regardless of how unsuccessful our previous efforts have been. Jesus just needs to be in the boat with us and guiding us to do it.

Are you at the point of giving up? I certainly am, and I’ve been here before. I suspect you have, too. In all likelihood, we will come to the point of giving up again. At this all too familiar point, we must ask Jesus into our boat, rather than becoming angry, bitter, resentful, or discouraged. We can do nothing without Him, but we can do all things through Him! Dare to venture out a little further with Jesus, and listen to what He has to say. He will speak the truth to you and give you instruction on exactly what to do. Miracles can happen if Jesus is in your boat, so do whatever He tells you, regardless of how many times you’ve already failed. Once you hear a clear word from Him and follow through in faith, your experience will change.

Simon was changed from his encounter with Christ that day. In fact, his huge blessing of fish changed his perspective of Jesus so much he and the others were willing to drop everything and follow Christ. They saw and experienced His power first hand. Dare to go deeper with Christ. If you’ve caught nothing, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Instead of asking God to change your circumstances, ask Him to change you, and get ready for more than you can handle!

Have a blessed day!