Go Out to Deeper Water
By Ryan Dawson
What does it look like to push out to deeper water? I'm following along with out 52 Days of Presence and Power Reading Challenge and last week I read Luke 5. I was struck by the words of Jesus when he asked Peter to take his boat out into deeper water.
“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!” Luke 5:4–6 (NLT)
There’s something about this passage that feels so close to home. How many of us have found ourselves tired, discouraged, and wondering if the next act of obedience is even worth it? Simon Peter had spent the entire night fishing—straining, striving, doing everything he knew to do—and came up empty. He was a seasoned fisherman and if anyone knew when to quit, it was Simon.
But then Jesus steps into his boat. He doesn’t just preach from Simon’s boat—He commands something deeper: “Go out where it is deeper.” Not just physically, but spiritually. Jesus is inviting Simon into a moment of trust, of risk, of obedience that doesn't make much sense on the surface. Remember Jesus was a carpenter so it's quite odd that he would give this seasoned fisherman advice on where to catch fish. But Simon Peter answers with one of the most powerful phrases in all of Scripture: “But if you say so…”
How often do we come to that same crossroads in our lives and faith journeys? When the logical response is to pack it in, clean the nets, and call it a day—Jesus invites us to go deeper. Not because it makes sense, but because He says so. I so want this to be my heart posture... "If you say so Jesus!"
As a Sequoia family, we too are being called to deeper waters in these days...
Maybe it's responding to the call to serve and engage in the life of our church.
Maybe it’s a new ministry assignment that seems too big for us.
Maybe it’s forgiving someone who hurt us deeply.
Maybe it’s giving generously to the Lord even when the numbers don’t quite add up.
Maybe it's believing God's promises for a situation that seems without hope.
Maybe it’s just showing up again when you’re running on empty.
Like Simon Peter, we might feel weary, discouraged, or even skeptical. But the promise on the other side of that faith—on the other side of “if you say so”—is something only God can do. It might not look like overflowing nets, but it will be abundance and blessing. It will be growth and transformation, the reality of the Kingdom life made evident in the hear and now.
Let us be a people who obey even when it’s inconvenient. Let us trust Jesus even when the logic doesn't line up. Let’s go deeper—not because we know what’s ahead, but because we know Who is calling us there. And may we find that, just like Simon Peter, the real catch was never about the fish. It was about discovering the power and faithfulness of the One in the boat with us.
With love and gratitude,
Ryan
What does it look like to push out to deeper water? I'm following along with out 52 Days of Presence and Power Reading Challenge and last week I read Luke 5. I was struck by the words of Jesus when he asked Peter to take his boat out into deeper water.
“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!” Luke 5:4–6 (NLT)
There’s something about this passage that feels so close to home. How many of us have found ourselves tired, discouraged, and wondering if the next act of obedience is even worth it? Simon Peter had spent the entire night fishing—straining, striving, doing everything he knew to do—and came up empty. He was a seasoned fisherman and if anyone knew when to quit, it was Simon.
But then Jesus steps into his boat. He doesn’t just preach from Simon’s boat—He commands something deeper: “Go out where it is deeper.” Not just physically, but spiritually. Jesus is inviting Simon into a moment of trust, of risk, of obedience that doesn't make much sense on the surface. Remember Jesus was a carpenter so it's quite odd that he would give this seasoned fisherman advice on where to catch fish. But Simon Peter answers with one of the most powerful phrases in all of Scripture: “But if you say so…”
How often do we come to that same crossroads in our lives and faith journeys? When the logical response is to pack it in, clean the nets, and call it a day—Jesus invites us to go deeper. Not because it makes sense, but because He says so. I so want this to be my heart posture... "If you say so Jesus!"
As a Sequoia family, we too are being called to deeper waters in these days...
Maybe it's responding to the call to serve and engage in the life of our church.
Maybe it’s a new ministry assignment that seems too big for us.
Maybe it’s forgiving someone who hurt us deeply.
Maybe it’s giving generously to the Lord even when the numbers don’t quite add up.
Maybe it's believing God's promises for a situation that seems without hope.
Maybe it’s just showing up again when you’re running on empty.
Like Simon Peter, we might feel weary, discouraged, or even skeptical. But the promise on the other side of that faith—on the other side of “if you say so”—is something only God can do. It might not look like overflowing nets, but it will be abundance and blessing. It will be growth and transformation, the reality of the Kingdom life made evident in the hear and now.
Let us be a people who obey even when it’s inconvenient. Let us trust Jesus even when the logic doesn't line up. Let’s go deeper—not because we know what’s ahead, but because we know Who is calling us there. And may we find that, just like Simon Peter, the real catch was never about the fish. It was about discovering the power and faithfulness of the One in the boat with us.
With love and gratitude,
Ryan