Put Out in Deep Water

Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.’ When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!’ For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.’ When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him. Luke 5:1-11

We all get to times when we have been working all day and night. We are exhausted, sweaty, and in pain. We have gotten no positive results, so we want to give up. This is where Jesus finds his disciples, not in their best moments, but in their worst. More than seeking them out, he provides an incredible abundance. That's where I am right now, with pain, exhaustion and deep frustration. I have been waiting on a spinal procedure for months and the pain has immobilized me. I have felt like giving up. I stopped blogging for a while, barely moving and feeling sorry for myself. And yet, today we read that Jesus is seeking us out in our worst times, when we can do nothing by ourselves and when we have thrown our hands up. We who are weary are reminded to look for Jesus in these worst of times, in the unrelenting storms and pain in our lives. And even more, to expect new blessings and new, impossible abundance.

Loving Creator, you seek us out in the dark nights

you soothe our souls with the promise of new dawns

and lift our hearts when we can lift nothing on our own.

We get angry, frustrated and wail into the deep darkness

blaming others for our frustration not seeing your face

ignoring your loving presence here with outstrecthed arms.

Wrap us in your loving embrace, Lord Jesus, for a time

so we might be restored and healed to put out into the deep

bringing up your abundant love to heal and feed the whole world. Amen.