Deep Water

Posted on by beautybeyondbones

So tonight, forgive me, but I’m going to reblog one of my favorite posts from 2016.

We’ve been dealing with a family emergency, so I haven’t had 2 minutes to sit down and write to you, my dear friends.

So thank you for giving me an extra couple days here. This post is ringing true in my life right now more than ever, perhaps it will for you too. Happy New Year friends. 🙂


Ever feel like your life is a broken record?

Like there’s something that you just. can’t. break free from? Just can’t quit or fix or resolve?

How many times have you gone to bed and thought, “Well, I’ll try again tomorrow.”

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Ask anyone who’s breathing and they can relate.

“Go out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Luke 5

This is a pretty famous story in the bible. The gist is this: Jesus takes a fisherman named Simon, out into a boat to teach and fish. Simon was clearly not a very good fisherman, because he had been fishing all day and all night and ended up with diddly squat.

So then Jesus says His infamous one liner: “Go out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”

Ofc, Simon protests, “Lord, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

He does. And proceeds to fill up the net with so many fish that it nearly breaks. So they summon another boat and they fill up both boats with so many fish that they begin to sink.

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OK, whatever, great story. I’m not a fisherman, nor really a fan of fish… soooo what’s the point here?

I was at church the other day, and they read this story. And they talked about the usual: about following what Jesus tells you to do. About being “fishers of men.” Yaddy yaddy yaddah.

Frankly, I’ve been hearing the same preaching on that verse since I was 5.

And as I was walking home, as one does in NYC, my mind was wandering and pondering. Thinking about that story. And something new was put on my heart.

DEEP WATER.

Those were the two words that just flooded my heart.

Deep. Water.

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Back in biblical times, fishing was a lot different than it is today. First of all, it was done with nets. And secondly, the majority of the fishing was done from shore or in shallow water. The fisherman would either throw the nets from shore, or they’d put a big dragnet into shallow waters with a boat, and then drag it in from the beach.

Going out into deep water was a big deal, as there weren’t motors — so it was hard work. And it required a big, strong crew. So the techniques used for fishing were mainly from the shore or in shallow waters.

So.

Deep Water.

Jesus tells Simon to go out to deep water.

AKA: do something different. Do what is difficult. Do something radical.

Simon had been trying and trying and trying unsuccessfully to catch fish.

I don’t know about you, but that just sounds dismal. You’re out in the hot sun all day. There’s no deodorant. No bug spray. Your nets and buckets smell like old fish. There’s no Pandora to listen to. And you’ve been working your arse off all. day. And you literally have nothing to show for all your hard work. Hell, you don’t even get a good selfie out of the whole situation! I’d be about ready to bang my head against a wall!

We don’t have to be fisherman to understand this sentiment.

Doesn’t that sound like recovery in a lot of ways?

Doesn’t that sound like life in a lot of ways?

How many times have you tried and tried to do something and just fallen short?

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Studying for exams. Trying to make the varsity team. Getting a promotion at work. Trying to win over a particularly difficult person. Battling an addiction or harmful thought pattern.

There were phases in my recovery where it felt like every day I was casting out net after net after net and coming up with nothing. I’d slip up with exercise. Get fixated on perfection. Let ED harangue my body image and self-worth.

I was trying. But getting nowhere. Perhaps you can relate.

Deep water.

I had to go to deep water to do something.

I had to do something radical. Something that was significantly different than what I was previously doing. Something that was hard, potentially dangerous, and quite scary.

I had to surrender.

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I’m gonna keep this short, so as not to get preachy.

The last thing to take away, was that Jesus didn’t tell Simon to go out and catch those fish while He lounged on the beach sipping Pina Coladas.

Jesus was in the boat with Simon.

Jesus went out to the deep water with him and helped Simon haul in all those fish. They did it together. And the results were glorious. Miraculous, even.

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What’s the deep water in your life? What’s something radical that you need to try, in order to change the outcome of an unfruitful fishing effort?

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The fish are out there. Waiting to be caught. So many that they’ll sink your boat. But you’ve got to leave the shore in order to catch them.

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“Go out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”

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BBB: Because we're all recovering from something. // For speaking/business inquiries: beautybeyondbones@yahoo.com

247 thoughts on “Deep Water”

  1. Speaking of surrender…After Peter caught all of that fish, he could have made a lot of money selling them. But he left everything to be fishers of men…to follow Our Lord.

    So sorry to hear about your family emergency. 😦 I’ll keep you in my prayers tonight.

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  3. Do hope its not too serious 😢 x. Will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers dooga 💙💚love you lots Sis 💛💜

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  4. And… After the cross he seems to have gone back to it; a little lost and wandering. Jesus came to get him again to remind him of the kingdom mission he was called into. (And!! This was after Peter betrayed him!) What a God he is.

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    1. I know, it is seriously amazing. And gives us hope…especially those of us who do quite a bit of slipping up—*cough*me*cough* haha…but seriously, it is so comforting to see that incredible mercy and forgiveness. God is good. hope your 2017 is off to a great start 🙂 hugs xox

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      1. Actually, my 2016 ended with two “miracles” so 2017 is great so far.
        Have you considered that you’re not “slipping up” – which has negative impressions? Think of a child learning to do something. If they falter and need to learn do we say they’re slipping up?
        Another thing, since you’ve got me preaching now, in the Bible, forgiveness comes from two words. One has to do with our response to God’s graceful forgiveness (See 1 John 1:8-10.) But the other word and the amazing aspect to this is the forgiveness that comes freely from God’s heart – before you asked, made things right, got your act together. (See Col 2:13-14.) That word – charizomai – comes from the word for grace!

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      2. Really!! That’s so awesome! Oh wow — what a powerful thought and truth. Grace is powerful. So powerful that it’s hard to wrap the mind around. Because the slip ups don’t register in grace – it is an undeserved gift!! God is so good. It is hard to understand just how good. Thanks for your wonderfully encouraging words. You’re a great friend! hugs xo

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    1. Thanks Rick. Amen to that. He is in the boat with us. Frankly, that’s the only reason our boat is still afloat at the moment. We are so blessed to have Him and each other. God is good. Thanks for your encouragement and prayers. big big hugs xox

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  7. So sorry to hear about the family emergency. Prayers for you and all involved. And, thank you for this post (as I’ve just found you). Very thought provoking and true. Surrender, trust, faith…words that are so simple to type yet something I need to be intentional about. Thank you again and prayers.

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  8. Ooh I love the story and the quotes, this message is very important to keep in mind. I wish your family the best in this time of emergency. The deep water I’m going through right now is being honest with myself. I’m trying to figure out the why behind one of my greatest fears and I’m not getting anywhere! It’s been nearly a week! So yeah I need to try something radical.

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    1. thanks love. I really appreciate that. yeah, self-honestly is deffffinitely an area of deep water for me too. I always have to remind myself that rome wasn’t built in a day 🙂 hang in there my friend! sending big big hugs xox

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      1. You’re absolutely welcome 😊 and that’s true! I needed to hear that. Your support is super appreciated right now ❤

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  9. THIS is exactly what I needed to hear.

    I’m a lot like you in that I have heard this Scripture so many times and have felt the call to “cast deep” but too often I forget that Jesus is in the boat with me. THANK YOU for the reminder.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Aw thank you so much. I’m really glad it resonated with you! yeah, the fact that Jesus is in the boat with us is honestly what has gotten my family through these past several days. We are not alone 🙂 Thanks for your kind words. Massive hugs xox

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      1. All the best Princess Caralyn… Jesus is in the boat, in you, in your entire family, and will help steer tha boat through his presence, word and actions… Dare to Go Deep… Amen

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  11. Prayers to you and your family ..and yes this is so how I have been feeling and a little overwhelmed and sad ,,lost my best bud my pups about two weeks before Christmas and nothing has felt the same . thinking of you hope to see you back on soon but take care of your family first. Hugs

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  19. I just recently started following you, so I’ve never read this post before today; therefore, there is nothing to forgive. Take care.

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  22. Isn’t it amazing what happens when we have quiet time to mull things, but not only mull on God’s Word, but digest it and listen to what God puts in your heart to understand. Your sharing of that gave it new light for me as well. Thank you!!

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  23. I know you’re strong enough to overcome anything with a really good family to also overcome anything. I’ve worked the docks here and there. Its hard work.

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      1. I used to dive for lobster. You start with a single breathe and kick down to the bottom and once there. You look for moving rocks because lobster aren’t shiny red until you cook them. The sea, does guide you as if God is next to you.

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      3. Hehe. Yeah. I was in Hawaii and Mexico and a bit of Canada. You do it for the tourists, really. Maybe Peter felt God rather than God fishing with him. Like, the peace you get when you’re deep in the forest and you become a part of nature. Men can’t make forests or fill oceans. There was a saint that was like Peter in Spain he was a farmer, I forget his name but people said they could see angels turning the soil with him.

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      5. I was meant for great things like, everyone else but settled on a manageable existence. 🙂 Peter is very, macho but seems insecure of his offering to Christ. Peter wants to die for Him but cannot seem to live for Him.

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  24. Thank you so much, my friend. I’m glad that you reblogged this – I needed to read it. It’s important for me to remember that the Christ is always with me. What I’d like to do radically different is to be present, FULLY present in the moment. Thanks for asking.

    Happy New Year, and many blessings to you for this coming year!! May it be filled with grace. Love and Light, Debbie

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    1. Thanks so much Debbie! Glad you enjoyed the read:) amen – He is always always with us. A good reminder for me as well. And yes! Gotta work on being fully present too! Sending big big hugs! Happy new year, friend xox

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  25. Thank you so much for sharing. Good luck with the new year and god bless you. Would love your feedback on a few of our short stories at our blog Gastradamus. Let me know what you think of Lardy Arms

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  26. Really needed that right now! Thanks C! Hope your emergency gets sorted soon and that everyone is okay 🙂 Will pray for you and your family.

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  28. Thanks a lot for this dear!! I totally identify with this. God bless you & I pray that the situation you are facing is resolved speedily & without delay by the power of God.

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  32. Like Ester in the bible was ready for her time, everything, that got you this far BB, has readied you to face this time. ‘In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loves us.’ Romans 8.37. Prayers and Love.

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    1. Oh my gosh what a powerful verse. And so true. Thinking back to everything I’ve been through, and all the time leading up to now, God has been faithful and good and has been preparing me the whole time. I am grateful. Thanks for the prayers and wonderful encouragement. Big big hugs xox

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  36. What a thoughtful, insightful piece. I missed it the first time, so thank you for reblogging it. What a blessing!

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  37. Praise the Lord! Follow Jesus and become a true fisher of men’s and ladies souls. Fish where Jesus tells us, and catch an amazing net full. Let’s pour out our trust in Jesus, he is the Way to Heaven. Have a great 2017. God. Bless!

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  38. I absolutely love this analogy. I received an analogy similar to this one as it relates to my ministry, Transparent Treasure. Thank you for sharing this. Some of us are in a season of launching off and we are partially afraid of what we may encounter. Some of us know what we are called to do and who our target audience is. We just hold back because it looks like a lot to bare.

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  40. You reblogging this post is awesome timing for me; after a second visit to the Bethel church in Redding, California, I am applying to attend BSSM (Bethel Supernatural School of Ministry) this fall! Stepping into deep water, 5 hours away!

    And speaking of deep, I just noticed how deep your eyes are. Maybe it’s a really flattering photo that was used for this post, but your eyes are are beautiful. Just saying.

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  44. Happy New Year!! If I may add layer to your excellent perspective. I am a very active dreamer, and I choose to see water in my dreams as a metaphor for our emotions, or emotional energy. So, if this story were a dream of mine, I would interpret it as telling me to look for the source of my passion. The water is emotion, and the fish, a symbol of God, are our divine purpose. (Fish don’t live in logic, they live in emotion.) The shoreline is crowded and very competitive, with most people staying there because they don’t know how to fish in deep waters and are afraid to try without guidance. So they compete vigorously with their family and neighbors for the few fish that they can get there. Something that leaves many people feeling lost and unfulfilled. Jesus acted like a spiritual guide to Simon. Showing him how to plum the depth of his emotions to find the source his passion, his purpose… which, of course, had him following Jesus.

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    1. Hi Craig! Thank you so much for this thoughtful response. What powerful perspective. I absolutely love that. Yes we can never go wrong when we follow Jesus. Thanks again for the great food for thought xox

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      1. You’re work Is a ministry to me! I can always count on a solid post from you! You’ve been an inspiration to me on my own blogging journey! Xo

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  49. Great bible reference, Yes! surrender is the word. Trust is the other …..that He will lead you to greener pastures as it sais in Psalm 23 written by David who was a shepherd boy himself and knew everything about the role of a shepherd. David whom God raised him up to be a great king because he rusted in the Lord. Now I know we don’t have shepherds nowadays, but this is an important psalm because the role of the shepherd is crucial to the sheep’s livelihood. Sheep are really at the bottom of the hierarchy, they frighten easily and can”t really look after themselves or solve problems. if there is noise near water, they won’t drink it and die. So Jesus is our shepherd and we his sheep, but it signifies that Jesus will take care of all our needs and when we go through the valley of the shadow of death(our tribulations) Jesus who is our good shepherd, with His crook and His staff will protect us and lead us beside still waters.(There is a lot more to Psalm 23-see my blog for more). I’ve got a family member to read this everyday and after a while when he was ready, the answers came and he made a complete turnaround and was healed. God bless Caralyn ❤

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    1. Thank you so much! Yes, surrendering … easy to say, hard to do! I love that psalm too. What a comfort is that, to know that He delights in taking care of us. Wow what a powerful story. So glad to hear that. Thanks for stopping by. Big hugs and happy new year xox

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