Luke Chapter 5

Have you ever felt like you’ve been working hard, doing everything right, and still coming up empty? Maybe you’ve been pouring yourself into your job, your relationships, or even your faith, but despite all your effort, nothing seems to change. If that resonates with you, then Peter’s story in Luke 5 might hit home.

Peter had one job—catch fish. He was a skilled fisherman, someone who knew the waters, the best times to fish, and all the right techniques. But after an exhausting night of fishing, he and his crew had nothing to show for it. Imagine how frustrated he must have been—tired, disappointed, ready to go home.

Then Jesus shows up. He gets into Peter’s boat, teaches the crowds, and then does something unexpected. He turns to Peter and says, “Put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch” (Luke 5:4).

Deep water? That wasn’t where Peter wanted to go. He had just spent all night fishing—without success. The last thing he needed was some preacher telling him how to do his job. And yet, something in Jesus’ words stirred him. He responds, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets” (Luke 5:5).

That moment—where logic says “No way,” but faith says “Try again”—is where everything changes. Peter obeys, and suddenly, the nets are overflowing with fish, so full they begin to break. Peter is overwhelmed, not just by the miracle, but by the realization of who Jesus is. He falls to his knees, recognizing his own unworthiness, but Jesus lifts him up and calls him to something greater: “From now on you will fish for people” (Luke 5:10).

What about you? Is Jesus calling you into deeper waters? Maybe you’ve been playing it safe, staying in the shallow end where things feel manageable. But Jesus often calls us to go deeper—deeper in faith, deeper in trust, deeper in surrender. And just like with Peter, that deeper place is where transformation happens.

Maybe you’ve been hesitant. Maybe you’re exhausted, feeling like Peter after a long night of failure. But the question is, will you trust Jesus enough to go deeper, even when it doesn’t make sense? Will you say, “Because You say so, I will”?

Jesus isn’t just about filling empty nets—He’s about transforming empty lives. He took Peter, a simple fisherman, and made him a leader, a world-changer. He can do the same with you. But first, you have to be willing to push out into the deep and let down your nets.

So, what’s your next step? Where is Jesus calling you to go deeper? Whatever it is, trust Him. You never know what He might do when you take Him at His word.