Friday Fight 161: Called into Deep Waters

Every Friday, when I wake and pray, God places something on my heart to help me fight darkness beginning in our minds. Today is FF161.

When we ponder the idea of deep waters, it stirs up a sense of adventure and exploration. We might envision our next voyage, serene blue water, or even fear of being engulfed. In a scriptural context, what does it mean to be led by God into deep waters? How can we apply this profound concept to our lives? Let's embark on this enlightening journey and pray for its transformative application.

Called into Deep Waters:

For this lesson, it may be easier to envision a large swimming pool with a shallow and deep end. Children or less experienced swimmers generally hang out in the shallow end, ensuring their feet can always touch the ground. The deep end requires more focus on our swimming ability and can be exhausting.

Let's apply this to our relationship with God. We are all in a constant state of spiritual growth. Being called into deep waters for whatever is asked of us is unknown and uncomfortable, but that is the point. To help us grow, God will call us to places beyond what is comfortable and familiar and use us in other areas. Our reliance on Him is not only significant, but crucial for direction, security, provision, and the blessings that come from our obedience.

Swimming into the deep end may seem easy, but it is not. When God calls us to do things for His kingdom, and we don’t understand His plan, fear sets in because what is asked of us usually goes against societal norms. People generally expect immediate results and may have opinions about our inability to explain each step in our journey. Moving away from shallow waters also means combatting the views of others while remaining faithful. It is crucial to stand firm on what we know to be true about the insights and direction we receive from the Holy Spirit.

Those in the shallow end may not be ready to move and should remain until God moves them according to His timing, not ours. Surrendering to God's will means letting go of our plans and desires and trusting that His plan is best. Trying to discern precisely what God is doing as He works in our lives is impossible, and our doubting dishonors Him. Each of us has unique needs, problems, feelings, and scars. God's love for us is the same in its dimensions but different in content. God calls us to work for Him as He works for us to bring healing and wholeness.

We can see this truth play out in Luke 5:1-7. Jesus tells Simon to bring their boats into deeper waters and throw their nets back in. Simon explains to Jesus that they haven't caught a single fish. In verse five, Simon goes on to say, "But because you say so, I will let down the nets." The next verse explains that the nets become so full of fish that they begin to tear, and the boats start to sink. God brings us to deep waters to test our surrender and obedience to Him. An abundance of blessings follows our obedience, so many we drown in them. When God calls us into these deeper waters, let’s put this concept into practice, knowing God’s plan is greater, and He is always faithful.

Pastor Shannon & Rylee Gragg

New Life Calvert