Discouraged People ~Luke 5:1-11~

"Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch."

The story on Luke 5 has always been my favourite in the Bible. Simply because it pops up every time I need it. I didn't realize about it until at that one time when everything seemed hopeless. Each time it happen this one particular story popped up. He is trying to pull me back again to where I began. Always.

The sleepless, fishless nights.. like Peter's. Yes, I've got some. But Jesus said to me

"It's not too late to try again."

Have I given Christ my boat?

My dead-end dilemma?

My struggle?

Have I really turned them over to Him?

Have I gone deep?

DEEP?

All those empty times, the sleepless, fishless nights..perhaps I haven’t gone deep enough. Maybe I should try the other side of the boat..go deeper. There, I may found what Peter found. God.

All this time, I tried to catch fish on my own. But most of the time, I just had a sleepless, fishless nights. Just like the one Peter had. My nets were empty and I didn't know where should my sail go. I always have that give-up look inside. But then, Jesus came into my empty boat.

As I allowed Him to enter my boat..He sat down. In silence He watched me. Smiling.

Unaware of what the future might hold, I cast my net into the open sea and He smiled. Hearing my sigh, He rose up, looked at the open water, and said

“It’s not too late to try again.”

So I spread my nets and put it into the water just as what He told me to do. I didn’t expect anything and just do what He said. Then He spoke again,

“Put out into the deep water.”

I nodded and did what He said.

While waiting the net to sink, I looked over my shoulder at Jesus. That time I didn’t really SEE what was happening. Jesus, knowing that I was about to half-sink into the water started to smile. Rising cheeks render His eyes half-moons. His teeth flashed beneath His whiskers. I could say His smile was the best smile I had ever seen, the one that I could always fall for over and over again. He tried to hold it back but couldn’t. As if there is much to smile about. At that time I think Jesus might say or had a monologue within Himself:

“Just wait until you see the net sinking.”

So there I was, fighting against the tearing nets. So many fishes! I am glad to have Him on my boat!

For some reason I could see myself in Peter’s place. God put me into the same boat where He had put Peter long ago. He allows me to play that one important role in the same story. To feel so hopeless, disappointed, exhausted..just like Peter. To feel love, hope, and mercy..just like Peter. To learn that it is never too late to start over..just like Peter.

There were times when I forgot Him. To forget about that half-moon eyes. Relying on my own understandings, my own strength instead of listening to that one Voice.

He knows where the fishes are. He created them. But somehow, due to my human eyes, I failed to see that. Thank goodness He is still willing to come into my boat to remind me about that divine fact. 

When I began to listen to Him, I began to sink into the blessings overflowed.

He cares enough to enter my boats.

The next door Saviour who whispers this words to the owner of empty nets,

“LET’S TRY AGAIN. THIS TIME WITH ME ON BOARD.”